Reference
Reference
The glossary briefly explains, without heavy jargon, the terms used in the guide's articles. The definitions are deliberately simplified: they are meant to help you look after your garden, not to replace a soil science textbook.
"Humus" sounds scientific, but it stands for something simple: what leaves and roots turn into when the soil is alive.
Composition
- Humus
- Dark organic matter formed when soil organisms break down plant and animal remains. It holds on to water and nutrients and gives soil its dark colour.
- Soil texture
- The proportion of particles of different sizes in the soil: sand, silt and clay. On this basis soils are classed as sandy, sandy loam, loam or clay.
- Structure
- The way soil forms crumbs with pores between them for water and air. Good structure is loose and crumbly; poor structure is dusty or a solid mass.
- Soil organisms
- Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, worms, insects and other soil dwellers. They break down organic matter, make channels through the soil and do much to sustain its fertility.
Properties
- pH
- The measure used to express soil acidity: 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic and above 7 is alkaline.
- Acidity
- A property of soil that determines how easily plants can take up nutrients. Some crops grow better in slightly acidic soil, others in neutral soil.
- Salinity
- A build-up of soluble salts in the topsoil. It shows up as a whitish film on the surface and stunted plants, and can be linked to poor watering practice and too much fertiliser.
- Compaction
- Loss of looseness, when the pores are squeezed and short of air. It is caused by walking or using machinery on wet ground; after rain, water stands on the surface for a long time.
Practices
- Compost
- An organic fertiliser and soil improver produced when plant waste breaks down in a heap or bin.
- Mulch
- A layer of material on the soil surface: straw, leaves, grass clippings, bark, compost. It saves moisture, suppresses weeds and protects against crusting and erosion.
- Green manure
- Plants grown to improve the soil: their roots open it up, and once cut down they add to its store of organic matter.
- Crop rotation
- Changing the crops in a bed from year to year so that related plants do not return to the same spot too soon.
- Liming
- Applying liming materials to reduce soil acidity. It is done on the basis of a test; the amount depends on the soil and is given on the product label.
Where these terms appear
- Guides
How to make compost that doesn't turn into a smelly mess: steps, mistakes and a checklist. Plus the article catalogue.
- Questions
Short answers about soil composition and type, compost, mulch, green manure, acidity and fertilisers.
- Collections
Reading paths: your first season on the plot, heavy clay, and sandy soil that won't hold water.
- Sections
Four topics: soil composition and types, fertility and organic matter, water and air in the soil, and common soil problems.
- Soil in a weekend (in Russian)
A note about the old address and a quick guide: how to get to know the soil in your garden in a single weekend.
See also
- Questions
Short answers about soil composition and type, compost, mulch, green manure, acidity and fertilisers.
- Guides
How to make compost that doesn't turn into a smelly mess: steps, mistakes and a checklist. Plus the article catalogue.
- Sections
Four topics: soil composition and types, fertility and organic matter, water and air in the soil, and common soil problems.
- Collections
Reading paths: your first season on the plot, heavy clay, and sandy soil that won't hold water.
Sources
- V. V. Dokuchaev, "Russian Chernozem" (1883)
- Textbooks and encyclopaedic sources on soil science
This article reflects the general understanding of soil science as of the date it was prepared. Every plot has its own soil, so before making big changes to how you look after it, it is worth having a soil test done and reading the label of any product you plan to apply carefully.