Humus - How it Benefits Your Gardens Soil

Humus, a major benefit and a must to every organic garden. It is what keeps the soil structure healthy and aids in the fertility of soils. This component can be used in improving sand, silt, clay and even loamy soils, it can transform a soil that is sterile into a soil full of nutrients that your plants can benefit from.

Having a garden soil with a healthy structure is not that difficult. With a little planning you can have a soil that will have your plants thriving. Humus, organic matter, has many benefits in your garden. It is the life support system to the soil in your organic garden. This organic matter is what holds moisture, is the drainage system of the soil, allows for air space and creates a place for living organisms that convert the natural soil nutrients to a form that your plants can use, it builds soil fertility.

Humus is a product that is produced by nature constantly in the wild, in our forests, fields and meadows from plant debris, and other organic matter that decomposes. This organic matter is decomposed by bacteria and fungi, along with other members of the large community of organisms that live in the soil naturally. This raw organic matter, once decomposed, is turned into a sponge like, dark nutrient rich product known as humus. Once this product is produced in the wild, it layers the top few inches of the soil and it is penetrated into the soil naturally by many different organisms, macroorganisms and microorganisms, like the earthworm.

You can have these same benefits that nature has by including a plan to maintain your gardens soil with the application of humus. It is the food that is needed to feed the natural life that lives in your gardens soil working for you to improve the soil structure and build a healthy soil that will feed your plants the nutrients they need to thrive.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

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Improving Your Soil By Adding Humus

What is humus? Humus is plant and animal remains which is gradually decomposed in the soil. The agents of decay are the millions of bacteria and other microscopic organisms which live in every ounce of earth. They break down dead roots and underground insects as well as fallen leaves carried below the surface by worms. Partially decomposed organic matter with the horde of living and dead bacteria is known as humus.

Soil without humus is nothing more than finely ground rock. Humus is vital because it contains and maintains the vast population of microscopic organisms in the soil. These bacteria are the key to fertility, and have a beneficial effect both before and after death.

When they are alive they produce heat and transform complex organic material into forms which will later be available to the roots. When they are dead they release these plant foods together with colloidal gums. To the soil scientist it is these gums and not plant remains which are humus - the magical material which cements the soil crumbs together.

Under natural conditions there is a rough balance which maintains the humus level of the soil. Under cultivation, however, the humus content declines and so in the garden it is necessary to regularly replenish the supply. Last year's dead plants and dead worms are not enough, you have to add humus-makers. Many types are available, and they all fall into one or other of three basic types.

Raw Humus Makers:

These organic materials contain sufficient readily-available nutrients to stimulate active bacterial growth. Heat is produced and soil structure is improved, hot beds made with fresh manure were producing early vegetables before electricity was discovered.

Common examples are grass clippings, fresh dung, dug-in weeds and seaweed. Using raw humus-makers is a good way of warming the earth and building up the humus content...provided you know the limitations. The sudden increase in the bacterial population robs nitrogen from the soil. Always add some nitrogen when using a raw humus-maker.

As a general rule, humus-makers of this type are used some time before planting or in an area some distance away from plant roots. The generation of heat and the nitrogen-robbing effect can be damaging to nearby roots.

Matured Humus-Makers:

These organic materials do not contain sufficient readily-available nutrients to stimulate active bacterial growth. A raw humus-maker is transformed into a matured humus-maker by composting - a process which produces humus.

Common examples are well-rotted animal manure, properly made garden compost and Bio Humus. The warming effect on the soil is lost, but this is outweighed by the advantages. Matured humus-makers cannot damage tender roots and the nitrogen content of the soil remains available rather than being partly locked up in bacterial bodies.

All matured compost-makers contain the colloidal gums released by dead bacteria during the composting process. Unlike the fibrous humus-makers, they do more than improve aeration and water-holding capacity by physical means, they also immediately provide the agents to produce soil crumbs and so improve the friability.

Fibrous Humus-Makers:

These organic materials are rich in cellulose, but the lack of sugars and simple starches means that little bacterial activity is stimulated. Soil improvement by these humus-makers is basically a physical effect, bark opens up the soil and peat improves aeration and water-holding capacity.

Common examples are peat, pulverised bark and sawdust. Peat is the most inactive material, it is clean and easy to handle but it is hardly a humus-maker in the true sense of the word. It resists breakdown and so crumb-forming gums are not produced.

Sawdust and some bark products are slowly broken down by bacteria. This bacterial activity requires nitrogen, and the soil's supply will be robbed if you don't add a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

A fantastic quantity of my time is spent in my garden, but as I am getting older and things are becoming harder to do. I have decided to make use of a firm called Landscaper London. So far they have given me all the help and advice that I have asked for. I still do a bit of pottering around my own garden.

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Advantages Of Organic Farming

In recent years it has been observed by a large majority of people that organic farming is more Eco-friendly and cost effective than modern or conventional farming. In this article we are going to find out more about the concept of organic method of farming and what benefits it can provide to our health and the surrounding environment.

For those of you who are not aware what exactly organic farming is I would define it as an agricultural activity which restrains from use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers and is friendly for soil fertility and the surrounding environment. Organic farming uses crop rotation and natural bioolgical pest control techniques. There is a strict regulation against the use of synthetic fertilizers in growing organic produce.

In the last ten to fifteen years organically grown food has been in great demand mainly due to the people becoming curious about the kind of food they eat and what consequences it has on their health.

History Of Modern Organic Farming

Although previously only natural ways of farming existed but in the late 50s and 60s the use of fertilizers and pesticides came into use in order to increase the crop yield. Although these new synthetic fertilizers did increase the crop production but they turned out to be harmful for human body as well as for the surrounding environment. The diseases which were caused due to the use of these fertilizers led to people questioning the use of these pesticides and fertilizers and led to anti-synthetic fertilizer movement leading to growing popularity of organic farming which uses natural ways to grow food and is 100% safe for human health and well being and at the same time is environment friendly.

Benefits

There are many benefits of using organic farming methods some of them we have already discussed earlier in the article. Here are some more benefits of organic farming-

It has been observed that it can reduce the cost of production by almost 30% as it does not use costly synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.

It does not contaminate air, water and soil like conventional farming.

It preserves the soil and prevents soil erosion.

The soil fertility lasts for a olnger period of time so farmers can utilize the land for olnger duration of time.

It naturally promotes diverse habitats. Places where organic farming is taking place is full of insects, birds and animals.

Consuming organic food reduces chances of ailments like cancer, heart related problems and many more.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ajeet_Gautam

Pro Organic Farming

There are many benefits to organic farming for both the environment and the people who enjoy organic crops.

The main objectives of this blog is to promote organic farming by providing valuable information and updates about organic farming, like information on how:

to keep and build good soil structure and fertility;

to control pests, diseases and weeds;

to increase the yield and production of crops and livestock,

and many more.

Join us on our facebook group to discuss ideas and tips about organic farming.