Management of land for better crop growth and yield (Stage-2nd)
Selecting land and raising a few crops in our kitchen garden does not mean the crop will give us the desired yield. Hence it is essential for managing the different aspects of the soil to enhance crop growth and increase the final yield. The important aspects are discussed briefly here.
1. Soil pH and EC monitoring and adjustment
Soil pH
(Potential of Hydrogen) and EC (Electrical Conductivity) are the soil chemical
reactions that basically can be read as soil acidity and salinity respectively.
One can test the soil pH and EC at nearby soil testing laboratories by submitting
nominal charges.
The most
favourable pH for all most all the garden crops is slightly acidic i.e.,
5.5-6.5. Essential plant nutrient elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium
and magnesium are unavailable to plants in acidic soil. Plants readily can’t
absorb micronutrients like copper, zinc, boron, manganese and iron in basic
soils; however, their presence in the soil can also be excessive and become
toxic to plants.
To correct
the very low acidity (pH 3.0-5.0) of soil it is recommended to go for the application
of Lime, Lime stone etc. The best time to apply lime is just after a
rain or spring or fall so that the lime does not wash away. Lime and fertilizer
can be applied at the same time but it is better to apply lime three weeks
prior to fertilizer applications.
Sulfur-based
materials like Gypsum must be used to decrease the soil pH (from basic to slightly
acidic). Acidic fertilizers like ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, sulphur-coated urea, elemental sulphur etc., can also be used to manage the
alkaline soil. Ammonium sulphate is very strong and can be corrosive to plants (burn
the leaves), hence must be used very carefully. Organic materials like sphagnum
moss/ peat moss, well decomposed FYM (Farm Yard Manure), compost, leaf mould,
pine leaf needle etc., can also help to make the soil acidic.
The ideal
range of EC for most crops is between 1.5 and 2.5 dS/m. A higher EC could
prevent the plant from absorbing nutrients due to an increase (more negative)
in osmotic pressure, and EC levels that are too low could adversely impact
yield. To correct the higher level of EC, you should irrigate the field heavily
with RO (Reverse Osmosis) water, which helps to leach out the salts. It is
better to use acidic fertilizers in soils with more EC. The use of well-decomposed
FYM (Farm Yard Manure) could be helpful in controlling both the EC and pH of the
soil to some extent.
