I have long been a proponent of composting, which helps make soil healthier, but there are other aspects of horticulture that can help make soil healthier and more sustainable. One thing to keep in mind is that there are beneficial fungi in the soil that are essential to nourish your plants. They are called mycorrhizae, which literally means fungal root.
There are two types of mycorrhizae. One attaches to the outside of the root and is called extracellular mycorrhiza and the other is intracellular mycorrhizal fungi that actually invade the root cells. Although discovered relatively recently, these fungi have been around for about 450 million years and have been partners of land-colonizing plants.
These fungi have mutual benefits with plants that help some plants to absorb phosphorus and others to produce nitrogen, two essential phytonutrients. brings water and nutrients to
The hyphae and spores of these plant-friendly fungi are coated with a sticky substance known as glomerin, which was discovered and named by USDA scientists in 1996. This substance is responsible for the earthiness of the soil, as well as the crumb structure and slope of the soil.
Tilth is one of those words whose definition is good to know. Wikipedia says about tilt: “Tyrth is the physical state of the soil, particularly related to its suitability for planting and growing crops. Factors that determine slope include the formation and stability of agglomerated soil particles, water It includes content, aeration, soil biota, and the rate of water infiltration and drainage.” In other words, tillage soil is healthy soil and what every gardener wants to create.
Every time you add compost or mulch to your soil, you’re adding a starter colony of these helpful fungi. After that, they thrive in peace and quiet. As mentioned earlier, Tyrus is likely associated with the soil being arable, and this is not exactly recommended as we know that tillage can destroy mycorrhizae. M. Minimizing soil cultivation is the best way to host a strong mycorrhizal presence. turns into a mycorrhizal haven. In nature, these beneficial fungi are always abundant where deep-rooted grass grows.
So how do we farm less? One method is to remove old crop residues such as peas and corn and plant the seeds into the soil without tilling. This is called stemless planting. Some garden plantings can also be done with little soil disturbance. Consider planting zucchini, squash, melons, squash, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and gourds in one small spot. . Also, many flowers like zinnias and vegetables like carrots, lettuce, chard, beets, onions, garlic and turnips can be planted with only minor soil disturbance.
So one of the morals of this story is to not till your garden too much and plant cover crops when you can. In the long run, composting and mulching as well as limited tillage will result in richer soil and better yields with less effort than ‘traditional’ methods. It also confuses living things, namely earthworms and many other living things.
Another important thing is that they are grown organically without the use of pesticides. According to the EPA, exposure to pesticides can affect the nervous system, or the hormonal and endocrine systems of the human body. I have. Pesticides can kill beneficial insects and pollinators, as well as other animals to which they are exposed, such as pets and wildlife. It can adversely affect many of the fungal soil biota such as roots.
Recently, more evidence has been presented about the adverse effects of pesticide overuse on the soil environment. Researchers gathered data from nearly 400 studies and found that pesticides harmed soil invertebrates and contributed to widespread declines in these populations. recommended. See: https://bit.ly/3Xtq6wn.
Enjoy organic gardening and let your soil biota flourish. If you have any gardening-related questions, you can contact UC Master Gardeners at 209-953-6112. For more information, please visit our website: http://sjmastergardeners.ucanr.edu/CONTACT_US/