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
- Interveinal 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.