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How to determine the type of soil in a summer cottage: even a schoolchild can handle it
17.01.2023 13:38
Updated: 13.04.2023 12:10
Without having an idea of the type of soil in your garden plot, you shouldn’t do any farming or even sow seeds for seedlings.
It is quite possible that the crops you are planning to harvest will not take root. It is also important to consider this point before applying fertilizers.
Of course, you can always turn to specialists who will conduct a deep analysis for your money and even measure the radiation background. But why such sacrifices if it is enough to have a minimum of ideas from a school geography course about sandstones, loams, and so on.
Podzolic
If the soil on the site is whitish, it will probably also be acidic, with a low level of humus and nutrients. Mineral fertilizers and lime will be required.
Sod-podzolic
Grayish-brown in color, medium acidity, plenty of humus, easy to cultivate and suitable for farming.
Sandy
It is highly breathable and moisture permeable, warms up faster than other types, but has few nutrients. It is usually light brown or gray in color.
Loamy
Light and medium loam contains a sufficient amount of sand, and therefore moisture does not stagnate on it. Usually brown or yellow in color. In heavy loam, without adding loosening agents - sand and peat - nothing can be grown.
Clayey
In addition to being a brown or red soil, it sticks to your hands and is easy to mold, absorbs moisture poorly, warms up poorly, and cannot be cultivated.
Quick test
The easiest way is to take a glass of water, add a spoonful of soil from the area, mix and leave for 2-3 hours.
If the water turns out to be clean with a thin layer of sediment, then you have loam.
If the water is clean and there is sediment of sand and small stones floating in it, it is sandy.
Turbid water with sediment and floating suspended matter indicates peat bog, and if the water is turbid and the sediment layer is thin, it means it is clay.
