Dirt! The Movie (FULL)

Biochar Biochar created through the pyrolysis process. History[edit] Left - a nutrient-poor oxisol; right - an oxisol transformed into fertile terra preta using biochar Pre-Columbian Amazonians are believed to have used biochar to enhance soil productivity. They produced it by smoldering agricultural waste (i.e., covering burning biomass with soil)[5] in pits or trenches.[6] European settlers called it terra preta de Indio.[7] Following observations and experiments, a research team working in French Guiana hypothesized that the Amazonian earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus was the main agent of fine powdering and incorporation of charcoal debris to the mineral soil.[8] Organic Fertilizer - What is it's real value? In my last post What is Organic Fertilizer I explained why the nutrients in organic fertilizer and synthetic fertilizer are the same. Plants can’t tell the difference between the two because there is no difference. However, organic fertilizer is better for the garden.

Tree Disease identification, symptoms, treatment options for tree diseases There are many different diseases that affect landscape trees and shrubs. Control of tree and shrub diseases cannot be properly accomplished until the disease pest is identified. Identification of tree and shrub diseases is crucial because, although most diseases can be controlled, there are some diseases that cannot be controlled. Disease control on landscape trees and shrubs can sometimes be accomplished by more than one method, depending on the particular disease that if infecting your landscape plants. Fungicides are often used to control diseases on landscape trees and shrubs and fungicides may be sprayed, injected into the tree trunk, or even injected into the soil surrounding the roots of the tree or shrub.

Mason Jar Soil Test - Spring Garden Primer, PreparednessMama.com Spring Garden Primer – Do a Mason Jar Soil Test Every year in the spring I do a mason jar soil test to see the soil structure in my garden and decide if I need to make any amendments. This is a simple and easy test to take if you are creating a new garden area, you’ve recently moved or you want to do a cool experiment with your kids. Knowing the structure of your soil will help you determine how much water and fertilizer your plants will need, and what soil amendments to make. Your soil is a mass of mineral particles, water, air and dead organic matter. The size and form of those particles make up the basic soil structure.

Does my compost have a high humic content? Compost contains humus, but there is no standard set for how much (the %). We believe most mature composts have around 10% (+/- 5%) humus. If you compared this to a commercial 'humic fertiliser' derived from ligninite, this would have >65% humic content. The exact amount of humus is likely to vary with each batch of compost. Tree Encyclopedia Trees have three principle features that distinguish them from all other plants. First, they have a woody stem, roots and branches which do not die back in winter, but continue to grow year after year. From the moment of its germination, a tree remains visible; from the tallest Sequoia to the smallest garden fruit tree, this principle of growth remains constant.

Composting & Soil Building What does it take to improve your soil? How do you know if you have good or bad soil? Composting had been around a long time. Even Thomas Jefferson knew the value of soil improvement at Monticello. Noting the difficulty of moving manure from the barns to the fields, he decided to station the cattle in the fields for long periods of time. The contentious nature of soil organic matter 1Ciais, P. et al. in Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis (eds Stocker, T. F. et al. ) 465–570 (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2013)2Lal, R. Soil carbon sequestration impacts on global climate change and food security.

Regrarian Handbook *1. CLIMATE CHAPTER’ eHANDBOOK (77 pages) available NOW for only AUD$5!! *ON SALE as a FULL HARDCOPY late-2015!! The ‘Regrarians Handbook’ is a succinct & sequential outline of over 300 integrated methodologies and techniques that have been proven over many years of universal application to work towards regenerating human & livestock’s lives along with production landscapes. Healthy Facts About Those Roly Poly Bugs In Your Yard Photo credit: bigstock.com Everyone knows what roly poly bugs are! You might call them by a different name: Woodlice, pill bugs, wood louse, even armadillo bugs. Humus Does not Exist - Says New Study - Garden Myths As a gardener we all talk about humus. Some of us even buy humus soil, and humic substances like humic acid and fulvic acid. We add compost to gardens to increase the humus level in our soils in the belief that humus is good for soil.