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Healthy Soils, Healthy Lawns

Healthy Soils, Healthy Lawns. Great Falls Grange April 12, 2011. What ’ s the basis of a healthy lawn?. A strong soil food web Good soil structure Lots of Organic Matter. The Soil Food Web. Fertilizers are substitutes for this process. The soil is like a great big stomach

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Healthy Soils, Healthy Lawns

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  1. Healthy Soils, Healthy Lawns Great Falls Grange April 12, 2011

  2. What’s the basis of a healthy lawn? A strong soil food web Good soil structure Lots of Organic Matter

  3. The Soil Food Web • Fertilizers are substitutes for this process • The soil is like a great big stomach • It processes “food” and excretes nutrients

  4. The Soil Food Web • What is soil food? • Organic Matter! • Fresh • And composted

  5. The Soil Food Web • A lawn with a healthy food web will need very little fertilizer, if any • What is the end product of “digestion” • Nutrients and Humus

  6. Soil Structure • Soils clump into aggregates called “peds.” Between peds are pores. Pores control infiltration of water and oxygen • How soil solids are arranged together • Highly dependent on content of Humus and biological activity

  7. Soil Structure • More pores = more infiltration • This is good forthe lawn and roots • This is also goodfor the environment

  8. Organic Matter • Why is it important • Already discussed • It’s a source of nutrients • It improves soil structure • New reason • It helps to hold water

  9. Field capacity Wilting point Plant available water sands loams clays Soil Texture Organic Matter & Water Capacity Water Volume in Soil Effect of OM Field capacity with OM additions Plant available water w/ OM Field capacity Wilting point with OM additions Water Volume in Soil Plant available water Wilting point sands loams clays Soil Texture

  10. Soils and the Water Cycle • Impervious surfaces- big problem in urban areas

  11. Soil and the Water Cycle • Why do we want water to percolate through the soil? • Already discussed • Good for plant health • Not yet discussed • Filters and holds thewater

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