WHAT ARE THE BEST ORGANIC SOIL AMENDMENTS

 Improving your garden with organic soil products

By using organic soil corrections, you can turn poor garden soil into a nutritious paradise. What does "soil correction" mean? What are some major soil corrections? Here is a brief overview of some of the best fixes for your garden!

What nutrients do plants need?

Like humans, plants need a wide range of nutrients to grow healthy and strong. Soil corrections contain different amounts of these nutrients and you can make additional use of your garden soil if malnutrition is found. The essential plant nutrients are as follows:

Primary nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). Apart from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, these are the nutrients that plants use the most. These nutrients help the plant's vital functions such as leaf, fruit, root, and flower growth and disease protection. Learn more about the importance of N-P-K.

Secondary nutrients: Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), and Sulfur (S). These nutrients are required in small quantities but are very important for the overall health of the plant. Soil corrections can be used exclusively to enhance these components.

Micronutrients: The nutrients in this category are required in much lower amounts than the primary and secondary nutrients. Most soil corrections contain some amount of micronutrients in addition to the main nutrient. Micronutrients include boron (B), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co).

Organic soil components

Organic soil corrections are a great natural alternative to chemical fertilizers, but before adding anything to your soil, you should test the soil to see what is already there. After testing, you know which elements you need to add — that’s where the soil corrections come in. Read more about preparing your soil for planting here.

Mineral Supplements

Aragonite is a source of calcium from mollusk tiles. Since it is low in magnesium, it is better to use it if your soil needs calcium but does not need extra magnesium. Excess magnesium can "bind" other nutrients so they are not available for use by plants. If your pH is low (acidity), aragonite has almost as much sweet energy as limestone.

Azomite stands for "A to Z Minerals including Trace Elements". Cut in Utah, it is ancient volcanic dust that merged with seawater 30 million years ago. It contains more than 60 minerals, which are good for plant growth.

Bone marrow burns bone meal, which provides an easily accessible source of phosphorus.

Campos colloidal phosphate is a good choice if your soil is low in calcium and phosphorus.

Dolomitic limestone not only raises the pH of your soil more than limestone but also provides calcium and magnesium.

Granite food is a rock powder that gives off a slow release of potassium and minerals without changing the pH of your soil.

Also known as greens and glyconite. It is high in potassium and iron and contains small amounts of magnesium and other trace elements.

Lettuce sand is good for loosening clay soils and improving sandy soils.

Gypsum is 23% calcium and 17% sulfur, which means it can provide a source of calcium without raising the pH level. It helps to improve drainage by aerating the soil, neutralizing plant toxins, and removing sodium from the soil. Sulfur reacts with water to form weak sulfuric acid and releases calcium.

High-calorie lime is used to raise the pH and at the same time add calcium.

Potassium sulfate contains 51% potassium and 18% sulfur and calcium and magnesium nutrients. It is cut in the Great Salt Lake Desert in Utah.

If you need magnesium and potassium but do not need too much calcium then a sal-po-mac also called langpenite is used. It does not raise the pH.

Zeolites are found in volcanic ash and can improve water and mineral retention in sandy soils.

Organic nutrition diet

Alfalfa food is a readily available source of nitrogen for plant growth and also feeds on soil organisms. It contains vitamins, folic acid, and minerals.

A blood diet may seem like every vegetarian's dream, but it's too much of the fast-release nitrogen. It chases away deer.

Bone meal is used as a source of phosphorus and calcium.

Pisces Food is the best source of nitrogen and potassium. It is a by-product of aquaculture.

Kelp meal is dried peanuts. It contains trace minerals, amino acids, and enzymes and stimulates plant and root growth, and benefits soil life. By improving the structure of the soil, it will retain the moisture of your soil and reduce the effects of drought and frost.

Soybeans are high in nitrogen and potassium, which are released slowly when they are broken down. Look for organic sources because commercially grown soybeans are genetically modified.