Innovation must have

4/23/20

1.Digging holes

2. Land cleaner

3. Roller- weigher

Improve soil fertility of agriculture land

https://extension.psu.edu/managing-soil-health-concepts-and-practices

https://www.google.com/amp/s/yourstory.com/socialstory/2019/04/soil-infertility-farming-techniques-india/amp

https://youtu.be/r0mCZD1vOrU

Reference: Bought below book from Amazon. 

Very nice book. Collected points on improving soil fertility from this book, added below:

Soil Test#1: The Squeeze Test Soil composition is one of the most basic characteristic. Soil is broadly classified into 3: clay, loam, and sandy soil. Clay is slow draining but rich in nutrients, sand is fast draining but doesn’t retain nutrients while loam is the considered the mother of all soils and ideal for planting delicious tomatoes and almost all other crops. Loam is rich in nutrients and retains moisture without being soggy. Steps to test your soil type: 1) Take a handful of moist soil (not wet) from your garden. 2) Squeeze it firmly then release your hand. 3) Stroke it lightly. If it retains its shape but crumbles when you stroke it, you are very lucky to have the luxurious loam in your garden.

Soil Test#2: Soil Drainage Test

Testing your soil’s drainage is equally important when it comes to planting sweet tomatoes. A waterlogged garden makes tomatoes tasteless, which is why if you pick a tomato the morning after it has rained, you will notice it’s not as sweet as it was before the rain. Steps for checking soil drainage: 1) Dig a hole; one foot deep and six inches wide. 2) Pour water into the hole up to the brim and let it drain off completely. 3) Fill it with water one more time. 4)  Record the time it takes for the water to drain each time. If it takes more than four hours for the water to drain, you have poor soil drainage and you need to improve it by digging trenches or applying other methods available for soil drainage problem;

tips are available online or inquire from extension officers. 

Soil Test#3; The Worm Test Worms are wonderful indicators of how healthy your soil is, in biological activity terms. If you see earthworms coiled up or moving in your garden, you should rejoice because their presence means that there is a high chance that all the bacteria, nutrients, and microbes necessary for a healthy soil and strong tomato plants are present in your garden. A dead soil destroys all life forms! Steps for checking on worms: 1) Ensure your soil is at least 55 degrees warm and somehow moist, although not soaking wet. 2) Dig a hole one foot deep and one foot wide. Put the soil on a cardboard piece or a trap.

3) Sift the soil through your hand as you put it back into the hole and count your blessings-earthworms. Don’t fear the worms; they don’t bite! If you have at least 10 or more worms in your hand, your soil is in excellent shape. Less than 10 worms is a red flag for insufficient organic matter in your soil to support worm population growth or that your soil is too alkaline or acidic. Soil Test#4; Nutrient And pH Test Soil pH (acidity) and nutrients has a lot do with how well your tomato plants grow. Soil pH level is rated on a scale of 1 -most acidic and 14-most alkaline; at level 7, the pH is neutral. Levels of below 5 or above 8 will stunt the growth of your plant. Tomatoes require a slightly acidic soil with about 6 to 7 pH level. You can do the acidity test on your own using the approved soil test kits available in local garden stores or online. The kit measures the acidity and the nutrient content in your soil. To get accurate results, follow the instructions on the kit to the letter.

Soil Test#4; Nutrient And pH Test Soil pH (acidity) and nutrients has a lot do with how well your tomato plants grow. Soil pH level is rated on a scale of 1 -most acidic and 14-most alkaline; at level 7, the pH is neutral. Levels of below 5 or above 8 will stunt the growth of your plant. Tomatoes require a slightly acidic soil with about 6 to 7 pH level. You can do the acidity test on your own using the approved soil test kits available in local garden stores or online. The kit measures the acidity and the nutrient content in your soil. To get accurate results, follow the instructions on the kit to the letter.

In case you have tested and amended your soil but still experiencing  recurring problems with the soil, contact your local agricultural extension officer who will test the soil in a lab and alert you on your soil’s mineral deficiency and how to solve any underlying issues. The above tests are inexpensive and simple ways to guarantee your garden has the best foundation possible for growing your tomatoes. Once you have performed all these soil tests and ascertained that your soil is at the best condition possible, it’s time for you to get down into the business of preparing your garden for planting your tomatoes. 

Key point/action step Test your soil's acidity, nutrient level, composition, drainage and for worms. Without this, you can’t really understand your soil condition so go ahead and do the testing now. Get the do-it-yourself kits!