تحضير التربة

تحضير التربة

تعتبر التربة مخزنًا لجميع العناصر التي تحتاجها النباتات للنمو: العناصر الغذائية والمواد العضوية والهواء والماء. توفر التربة أيضًا دعمًا لجذور النباتات. عندما يتم تحضير التربة والعناية بها بشكل صحيح ، يمكن تحسينها كل عام وستستمر في زراعة النباتات إلى الأبد. قريباً ستصبح غير المهتمين بالتربة مناسبة فقط لنمو الحشائش.

أنواع التربة
يجب أن يعمل البستانيون مع العديد من أنواع التربة المختلفة. بعضها رملي جدًا ، وبعضها من الطين اللزج ، والبعض الآخر صخري وضحل.

التربة الرملية لا تحتوي على كمية كافية من الماء ؛ في المناطق المليئة بالرياح ، قد يؤدي نفخ الرمال إلى إصابة الخضروات. تحتوي التربة الطينية على الكثير من الماء ولا تسمح بدخول كمية كافية من الهواء إلى التربة.

تحتاج الخضروات إلى تربة عميقة وجيدة التصريف تحتوي على مواد عضوية كافية. لن تشكل تربة الحديقة الجيدة ذات الرطوبة المناسبة كرة صلبة عند الضغط عليها في اليد. يجب أن ينهار بسهولة عند الضغط عليه بين الأصابع. لا ينبغي أن يتشقق أو يتقشر عندما يجف.

شكل 1. سوف تنهار تربة الحديقة الجيدة بسهولة.

تحسين التربة
يمكن تحسين جميع أنواع تربة الحدائق تقريبًا عن طريق إضافة مواد عضوية لجعل التربة أكثر قابلية للتطبيق. المواد العضوية:

يخفف الطين المشدود
يساعد الرمال على الاحتفاظ بالمزيد من الماء
Makes soil easier to dig
Adds nutrients
Some common organic matter additives are:

Plant materials: This includes leaves, straw, and grass clippings. Work material into the soil several months before planting to allow it time to decompose. Most gardeners do this during the winter.

Manure: Use composted manure and incorporate it into the soil well ahead of planting. Do not use fresh manure, as it can damage plants and introduce diseases. Apply 30 to 40 pounds of composted manure for every 100 square feet.

Compost: Compost consists of decayed plant materials. Work it into the soil before planting.

Sawdust: Compost this before adding it to the garden. Do not use uncomposted sawdust because it will rob the soil of nitrogen and, consequently, starve the plants of this essential nutrient.

Green manure: Plant rye or oats in the fall and plow or spade it under in the spring. These cannot be used if a fall garden is planted.

Do not add more than a 4-inch layer of organic material.

Most heavy clay soils benefit from the addition of gypsum. It adds some nutrients but, more importantly, it loosens clay soils and makes it more workable. Spread about 3 to 4 pounds of gypsum per 100 square feet over garden soil after it has been dug in the winter. Work it into the soil or allow it to be washed in by rain.

Add sand and organic matter to clay soil to make it more workable. Mix 2 inches of clean sand and 3 inches of organic matter, such as leaves, with the soil. Do this during the winter.

Tilling the soil
The soil should be tilled as deeply as possible, at least 8 to 10 inches. Deep tilling loosens soil and lets vegetable roots go deeper. Turn each shovelful of soil completely over

Figure 2. Turn over the soil to a depth of 8 to 12 inches, using a spade or rototiller.

Till soil when it is moist but not wet. Working soil when it is too wet can cause it to become rough. Spade the soil in the winter to prepare for spring planting. Winter temperatures and moisture help mellow soil. This is especially important if the soil is being worked for the first time.

Add organic matter each year during soil preparation to build and maintain the soil. Be sure all plant material is turned under the soil. If organic material is added before planting a fall garden, it should be well-rotted, such as compost.

Before planting, rake the soil clean and level it. Remove all sticks, rocks, and other materials.

Row preparation
In most Texas areas vegetables should be planted on raised beds Raised beds:

Allow water to drain away from plant roots
Provide furrows for irrigation
Allow air to enter the soil
Help plants through periods of high rainfall

Figure 3. Plant vegetables on raised beds.

If the garden is large enough, make rows 36 inches apart. Where space is a problem, some vegetables can be planted in rows closer than this, but they will require more care during the growing season.

Straight beds are nice but not necessary. In small gardens worked with a hoe, rake, or other hand tools, straight beds are not as important.

If the garden is large and is worked with a rototiller or garden tractor, the rows should be made as straight as possible.

Use a shovel or rake to pull the soil up into beds 8 to 10 inches high. Pack beds or allow them to settle before planting. Also, level the tops of the beds and widen them to about 6 to 8 inches before planting. Plant on top of the beds (Fig. 4.)

Figure 4. Plant vegetables on top of prepared beds.

After completing the steps required to properly prepare the soil for planting, gardening might seem anything but “easy.” But with proper soil preparation, gardening will get “easier” every year.

.