Thursday, January 14, 2010

Blog 016 | Soil Problems & Solutions

Describe 3 soil problems and 3 solutions.

1. High Salinity (Soluble Salts)
Problem
Chemical drought due to plants being unable to extract water.
Solution
- Adequate drainage with a clean source of water inorder to wash the salts from the soil and adding organic matter to improve drainage.
- Flood Irrigation

2. High pH (Alkaline Soil)
Problem
- Lack of Nutrient
- Iron Deficiency
- I
nterveinal Cholorosis.
Solution

- Adding sulfur to soil.
- Using acidifying fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate and other products with labels that indicate an acidic reaction in the soil.
- Raising plant beds in a sandy medium amended with peat moss or another source of acidic organic matter.

3. Drainage
Problem
- Growth Problems

- Water Stress
- Root Disease
- Iron Deficiency
Solution

- Inspecting soil before planting.
- Install subsurface tile drains.
- Amending the soil with organic matter.
- Installing vertical drains in planting holes.
- Constructing raised (for poor drainage) or sunken (for excessive drainage) beds.
- Mixing layered soils.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Blog 015 | Human Footprints

Name three things you learned from the human footprint DVD.
1. 4.5 trees to make kid's pampers
2. 43,371 cans of soda are used in a day
3. 716 pounds of plastic used in a day