What Are Soil Amendments And What Do They Do?

The soil amendments improve the physical properties of the soil when combined with it. These are some improvements, but not limited to water retention, permeability, water infiltration, drainage, aeration, and structure. Soil amendment also helps provide the roots of a better environment. This article is perfect for you if you want to learn more about soil amendments and their purpose.

How soil amendments work

Soil amendments and fertilizers are not the same. Soil amendments help improve the soil or modified the soil’s conditions, while fertilizers add nutrients to the soil. Soil amendments indirectly influence the plants’ growth and may even provide nutrients at times, unlike fertilizers directly impacting the plants’ growth. Soil amendments do not take the fertilizer’s place; instead, they assist the fertilizers in delivering their task in making sure that the plants are absorbing their nutrients.

Amendment modifies the soil to make the plant growing easier. It helps the soil change so the plants will experience healthy growth.

Common types of soil amendments

• Organic matter

These are natural materials like well-rotted leaves and finished compost. These materials help improve the totality of the soil, such as the way particles fit together and how air and water move into the soil. It also improves the soil’s ability to hold its water and nutrients, which in return, makes the plants grow healthy.

• Lime

Lime is being used on the soil to balance the soil’s potential of hydrogen (pH). It is perfect for mixing in overly acidic soil (when the soil’s pH level is less than 6.0).

• Elemental Sulfur

If you are planning to grow plants that need low soil pH, you need to add in your soil elemental sulfur to help your plant grow healthy and provide the right amount of produce.

• Ammonium sulfate

Ammonium sulfate makes acid-loving plants grow healthy and happy.

• Gypsum

Gypsum does not affect the soil’s pH level, but it makes the water penetration higher and helps root penetrate easier as well.

 

Soil amending benefits

The following are the benefits of soil amending:

• Lowers alkalinity of the soil
• Helps increase the soil’s organic content
• Assists in balancing the mineral content of the soil
• Helps improve the soil’s physical structure
• It assists in improving the immune system of the plant
• Decreases the amount of irrigation
• Helps provide nutrients and water during windy conditions

Conclusion

If you love planting or want to make your garden beautiful, you must know how to mix soil amendments to your soil. Apply the correct amount and type of soil amendments to get the best result for your plants. Remember to give your garden every advantage by mixing the right soil amendment. Happy Gardening!