Did you know soil health can be improved in various natural and sustainable ways? While you can add compost to the soil to improve productivity or use the organic soil amendments to develop up structure and help cycle the nutrients, the plants growing in your garden can also impact soil fertility in the USA.
Source: Freepik
Plants That Boost Soil Health:
The following plants can do wonders for improving your soil; some may already be growing independently in your plots!
Peas (and Other Legumes):
Known for their nitrogen-fixing properties, planting peas, beans, and the other legumes in your field can considerably boost this vital nutrient. Due to their symbiotic relationship with soil microorganisms, they can improve soil fertility by cycling the soil nutrients to make them more available for plant’s uptake. Leaving the roots in the ground after the harvest will provide growers with the maximum benefit.
Stinging Nettle:
You will like to use caution with this plant, as it can also pack a sting if not handled with protective gloves. However, nettle accumulates nutrients in the soil and brings them closer to the rhizome, where they can be absorbed in the best manner.
Red Clover:
Another nitrogen-fixing plant – red clover, proliferates in most climates and comes back every year. Add the cuttings to your pile of compost to increase nitrogen there, too. As clover grows very densely, it also helps build soil structure and retain moisture. And if that wasn’t enough – its flowers attract pollinators and beneficial bugs that can help to control the pest populations.
Alfalfa:
The plant’s deep taproots help to aerate the soil layer and provide better drainage by altering the soil’s structure. The crop can also be used as a cover crop for fixing nitrogen into the ground and acting as a living mulch for the intercropping process. Because it grows so densely, it prevents erosion of the soil layer and also encourages carbon sequestration through the process of photosynthesis.
Alder Tree:
This hardy tree is also known to grow well in the poor soils and helps to improve them as it grows. Besides its nitrogen-fixing and carbon-sequestering qualities, it provides a brilliant habitat to support a variety of wildlife – making it a crucial contributor to a healthy ecosystem. It typically grows near water and can reinforce riverbanks by keeping the soil bound together with its extensive rooting network.
Comfrey:
This hardy perennial plant is a star of permaculture as it will come back on its own year after year. Its rooting system can stretch down further than 10 feet beneath the soil’s outer surface, bringing essential nutrients closer to the surface. These strong roots also break through compacted clay soils and provide the necessary aeration for the other vegetation to grow. Like the most of the plants on this list, it also adds nitrogen to the soil through its decomposing leaves that fall to the ground, but it will also help add potassium and phosphorous similarly.
Milk Thistle:
While it is sometimes criticized to be an invasive plant, Milk Thistle does have several soil-building qualities. The plant is very high in potassium, while its hardy and deeply penetrating roots help to break up subsoil and bring iron very closer to the surface. It is also a useful plant for pollinators and the other insects. Milk Thistle encourages microbial life in the soil to grow and then thrive as it feeds on its roots, cycling nutrients and improving the soil structure.
Sunflowers:
Sunflowers have a very extensive root system that helps to support their grand stature. Because these long and hardy roots reach out far down into the soil, they effectively create the channels for water, air, and nutrients needed to boost soil health. Sunflowers are excellent for pollinators and also a great source of nourishment for birds and small animals. While they are annual flowers, they almost self-sow their seeds always due to their abundant produce. They will typically come back year after year, sometimes being transported by the birds and popping up in surprise locations.
How Do We Measure Soil Fertility?
Conducting soil testing is necessary to evaluate the overall quality of the land and its productivity, in particular. As a result, the farmer will receive the data on the composition, type, mineral content, pH level, and other soil fertility indicators. Testing laboratories can also interpret these values and provide general recommendations for adding nutrients to the soil.
Why are soil fertility tests necessary for farmers? First and foremost, soil fertility analysis reveals the deficiencies and missing elements, allowing the agricultural producers to understand what must to be done to boost yields.
Notably, the balance of microelements varies based on the type of soil. Furthermore, each culture has very unique trace element requirements. Matching a field’s micronutrient content to the crop needs helps to determine how fertile the land is for a specific crop.
Healthy soil plays the most important role in our human health. As agricultural practices and climatic shifts continue to degrade soil health, we must do what we can to regenerate and restore it. With increased awareness and knowledge, you can take steps in the right direction.
For more details on improving your soil layer’s health, visit https://soiloptix.com/.
