What do plants use organic matter for?
Organic matter improves soil structure, which results in increased water infiltration following rains and increased water-holding capacity of the soil; it also enhances root growth into more permeable soil. This results in better plant health and allows more movement of mobile nutrients (such as nitrates) to the root. Organic matter is a major contributor to soil health. Most garden and landscape plants benefit from increases in soil organic matter. Soil amendments are materials applied to or mixed into the topsoil to change or change soil properties and improve plant growth.Enhanced Plant Health: Rich in nutrients, organic potting soil provides everything your plants need to grow strong and healthy. Eco-Friendly: With no harmful chemicals, it’s better for the environment and reduces your carbon footprint.
When to apply organic matter to soil?
Digging in organic matter On most soils they are best incorporated by cultivation in spring (March and April in most of the UK) just before growth starts. Sandy soils are best manured from late winter. However, autumn application can also work on all but sandy soils. The cold soil will slow breakdown over winter. To add nitrogen to soil, apply organic matter like compost for gradual release or use synthetic fertilizers for quick results – and time applications during active plant growth periods. Test soil before applying to prevent over-fertilization and determine the right nitrogen source for your situation.Adding some form of organic matter to the soil each year is a good garden practice. In addition to the use of animal manure to add organic matter, any composted plant material such as leaves, cotton burrs, hay, or straw will do.
What happens when organic matter is added to soil?
Soil organic matter can produce significant improvement in physical soil conditions. Increased soil organic matter will improve water retention, create more water-stable aggregates, improve air space (pore spaces), and improve water infiltration. Soil organic matter is the fraction of the soil that consists of plant or animal tissue in various stages of breakdown (decomposition). Most of our productive agricultural soils have between 3 and 6% organic matter. Soil organic matter contributes to soil productivity in many different ways.Stable soil organic matter can last for hundreds to thousands of years and is largely composed of carbon [52]. For carbon to be sequestered in soil, it has to be protected from microbial degradation.
Can you add too much organic matter to soil?
While adding compost to your soil can increase soil organic matter and improve soil health and fertility, too much compost can cause problems for the health of your plants and the environment. To make compost, take all your scraps (like eggshells, fruit peels, and coffee grounds) and put them into a pile with leaves, sticks, and other organic debris. Overtime, the microbes will break the pile down and turn it into fine fertilizer, which you can mix into your soil.
What are the disadvantages of organic matter?
The problem with organic matter is that while plant nutrients are needed for crop growth, they can also stimulate excessive growth of the wrong plants – mainly, algae. In freshwater systems, such as ponds and lakes, excessive phosphorus will lead to excessive growth of algae. Organic matter, Nelson said, correlates with elevated phosphorus and microbial activity. If there are too many nutrients for the plant to use, phosphorous may run off if the soil erodes into waterways.