Nutrient Deficiency In the Garden

There are many different symptoms that can show where there has been a nutrient deficiency in a plant. Because all plants respond differently to a lack of nutrients it is not always easy to determine whether it is a deficiency or something else that is causing the changes to the plant.

Chlorotic blueberry plant due to soil pH being too high, and therefore plant not being about to uptake iron. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Where you see abnormal leaf coloring, where the leaf has turned a pale yellow or changed to a paler color than normal, and the veins of the leaf are green, then this can be a sign of nutrient deficiency.

If the leaves are smaller than normal, or any part of the plant is showing signs of stunted growth, then this is a sure sign of a nutrient deficiency.

There are other signs such as brown blotches on the leaves, but this can also be leaf scorch so you need to consider the conditions that the plant is growing in to help analyze blotchy leaves. If the leaves are showing tones of blue or purple that can be another sign to look out for.

To assist the plant, you should apply a soluble fertilizer, as this will have the fastest effect on its possible recovery.

You will need to check the pH of the soil to see that it is correct and take the appropriate action to remedy the situation if it is out of balance.

The nutrients might be in the soil but without the correct pH balance the plant won't be able to make use of them. Testing can be done with a simple and inexpensive test kit that you can buy from garden stores.

Make sure that the plants you are growing are compatible with the soil that you are growing them in and adjust the type of soil accordingly if you don't want to replace them with plants that can flourish in those conditions.

Understanding Soil - Part 2: Testing the pH of Your Soil

We talked a bit last week about creating balanced soil for optimum growth of your garden, and one of the most important things to keep in balance is your soil's pH. It's easy to test the pH of the soil in your garden with the use of a simple and inexpensive test kit.

All you need to do with the test kit is take a sample of the soil and mix it with water and then compare the results in the sample to the colors on the chart. This will tell you whether the soil is acidic or alkaline.

Homeowners are encouraged to test their soils for nutrient needs, and to apply only what nutrients are needed for a healthy lawn and garden. Farmers practice the same testing procedure. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If the soil is too acidic you can add lime to bring it back into balance. If on the other hand there is too much lime and the pH reading is high you can add more compost to reduce the levels of the lime in the soil.

Soil that is slightly acidic tends to be more fertile.

Before the use of such test kits, home gardeners used to use a simple taste test to determine the condition of the soil. This method isn't recommended but it can be quite accurate.

If the soil tastes sour then it is likely to be acid. This is also represented by a sour smell.

Vinegar is another way to test whether there is enough lime in the soil, as lime will cause the vinegar to bubble.

Drop some soil into a cup of vinegar and if it starts to bubble then you know there is enough lime in the soil.

But for the low cost of a pH tester, you will get a lot more accurate reading and this will allow you to easily monitor the condition of your soils and adjust the nutrients accordingly rather than guessing what is needed and not having optimum nutrition.

You should also take samples at different points throughout your garden, as there can be changes in the soil from one area to the next depending on what has been added over the years and what has been growing in the various sections of the garden.

Balancing your soil's pH properly will help you achieve optimum results in the growth and health of your garden.

Be sure to check back next week when we'll discuss a few more ideas for creating healthy, balanced garden soil.


Soil pH Test Kits:
   

Sustainable Organic Vegetable Gardening With Organic Matter

Sustainable organic vegetable gardening can only happen if you know how to use and prepare organic matter.

Use of this fertilizer method improves the soil and prevents it from compacting and crusting. It increases the water’s holding ability so earthworms and other microorganisms can aerate the soil and it slows down erosion and in later stages of decay so that organic matter is able to release nitrogen and other nutrients which help the crops grow.

Such a technique is old but is now making a come-back because the conventional method of using synthetic materials like fertilizer and pesticides have ruined the soil and depleted it of organic matter so it cannot be used for replanting (or if it is, the food that comes from it is extremely lacking in nutrients).

Image via WikipediaSo where do we get this organic matter? Believe it or not, the best form of organic matter comes from animal manure. The fresher the better because you can apply this directly to the soil, but this should only be done in the fall and plowed down to give it adequate time for sufficient breakdown and ammonia to release before the planting season begins — otherwise it can burn the roots and leaves of the new plants.

If you don’t have access to fresh animal manure, you can use the dried version that is being sold in nurseries and garden stores.
For those who don’t want to use manure, you can use compost instead. This can be made from lawn clippings, leaves, food waste and other plant materials. It is cheap but its nutrient content is lower. (See previous posts on composting for more on this).

There is also another kind of manure better known as green manure. This comes not from animal waste, but rather by growing a rich cover crop in your garden and then plowing it under so you are adding organic matter to the soil. The best way to maximize this is for you not to use the garden for one season.

You can also seed the green manure in the fall and then turn it under with a plow or a large tiller in the early spring. That way, you can use your garden normally in the summer season, while at the same time building up the soil during the later half of the year.

Annual ryegrass is a good example for green manuring and covering. This should be seeded 1 to 2 feet per 1,000 square feet. If this is not available, you can use seed rye or wheat and place it 3 to 4 feet per 1,000 square feet. This also helps prevent weeds from growing;  in order for this to be most effective, wait at least 2 weeks before you start planting.

Sewage sludge is also a good source of organic matter. There are two types namely digested sludge and dried activated sludge.

The first is relatively low quality. It contains from 1 to 3 percent of nitrogen and should only be applied during the fall. But you should be careful when you use it because it sometimes contain metal ions that are not good to use on vegetable gardens.

The second which is the dried activated sludge has been separated from coarse solids, inoculated with microorganisms and aerated. This is better than the other one because it is filtered, dried in kilns and screened. It contains 5 to 6 percent of nitrogen and 5 to 7 pounds can cover an area of 100 square feet.

Take note that these two types are different from raw sewage, which should NEVER be used to garden in any soil. 

Sustainable organic vegetable gardening can only happen with the prudent and educated use of natural organic matter. Choose from the methods above to find what will work best in your situation, and get gardening!

And as always, we’d love to hear your tips and comments on what organic fertilizer methods have worked best for you in your garden, so please feel free to post below!

Related articles on Organic Fertilizers & Sustainable Gardening:

• Preparing to Prepare: Amending Your Garden Soil, by Windwillow (survivalblog.com)
• Recycling animal and human dung is the key to sustainable farming (energybulletin.net)
• Identifying Your Soil Type and Preparing Your Site (gliving.com)