Book
Soil science for gardeners : working with nature to build soil health / Robert Pavlis.
"Soil Science for Gardeners is an easy-to-read, practical guide to the science behind a healthy soil ecosystem and thriving plants. The book debunks common myths, explains soil science basics, and provides the reader with the knowledge to create a personalized soil fertility improvement program for better plants."-- Provided by publisher
Record details
- ISBN: 9780865719309
- ISBN: 0865719306
- Physical Description: xi, 209 pages : illustrations, portrait ; 23 cm
- Publisher: Gabriola Island, BC : New Society Publishers, [2020]
- Copyright: ©2020
Content descriptions
| General Note: | Includes index |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Garden soils. Soil science. Soil management. Gardening. |
Available copies
- 1 of 3 copies available at Missouri Evergreen. (Show)
- 0 of 1 copy available at Rolla Public.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 3 total copies.
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| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|
Soil Science for Gardeners : Working with Nature to Build Soil Health
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Table of Contents
Soil Science for Gardeners : Working with Nature to Build Soil Health
| Section | Section Description | Page Number |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | p. 1 | |
| What Is Soil Health? | p. 3 | |
| Using the Book | p. 4 | |
| Terminology | p. 4 | |
| Section 1 | Understanding Soil | |
| 1 | Soil Basics | p. 11 |
| Components of Soil | p. 12 | |
| Origin of Soil | p. 12 | |
| Soil Particles | p. 13 | |
| Soil Texture | p. 15 | |
| Importance of Particle Size | p. 17 | |
| Air and Water | p. 17 | |
| Aggregation and Soil Structure | p. 22 | |
| Soil pH | p. 25 | |
| 2 | Plant Nutrients | p. 29 |
| Ions | p. 29 | |
| What Is Salt? | p. 30 | |
| Movement of Nutrients in Soil | p. 32 | |
| Essential Plant Nutrients | p. 32 | |
| Micronutrients | p. 43 | |
| Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) | p. 44 | |
| 3 | Soil Life | p. 45 |
| Energy Food Web | p. 45 | |
| The Power of Large Molecules | p. 47 | |
| Ratio of Fungi to Bacteria | p. 48 | |
| Chemicals in the Soil | p. 49 | |
| Pathogen Control | p. 49 | |
| Identification of Microbes | p. 50 | |
| 4 | Bacteria | p. 51 |
| What Do They Eat? | p. 52 | |
| Where Do They Live? | p. 53 | |
| Role in Disease Prevention | p. 54 | |
| Ideal Environment | p. 54 | |
| Role in Building Soil Aggregates | p. 55 | |
| Conditions that Harm Bacteria | p. 55 | |
| Nitrogen Fixation | p. 56 | |
| 5 | Fungi | p. 59 |
| What Do They Eat? | p. 60 | |
| Where Do They Live? | p. 61 | |
| Fungi at War | p. 62 | |
| Fungal Parasites | p. 62 | |
| Mycorrhizal Fungi | p. 63 | |
| 6 | Other Organisms | p. 65 |
| Actinomycetes | p. 65 | |
| Algae | p. 65 | |
| Protozoa | p. 66 | |
| Nematodes | p. 67 | |
| Arthropods | p. 68 | |
| Earthworms | p. 68 | |
| 7 | Organic Matter | p. 71 |
| Decomposition: Converting Dead Things into Humus | p. 73 | |
| Truth About Humus | p. 75 | |
| Too Much Organic Matter | p. 77 | |
| Compost | p. 79 | |
| Chelation | p. 86 | |
| 8 | Rhizosphere | p. 89 |
| Root Exudates | p. 90 | |
| Soil Enzymes | p. 91 | |
| Effect of Desiccation | p. 92 | |
| Soil pH Levels | p. 92 | |
| Dynamic Microbe Population | p. 93 | |
| Allelochemicals | p. 94 | |
| Plants Are in Control | p. 95 | |
| Section 2 | Solving Soil Problems | |
| 9 | Identifying Soil Problems | p. 99 |
| Why Do We Fertilize? | p. 99 | |
| Soil Testing | p. 100 | |
| Plants as Indicators of Soil Problems | p. 105 | |
| Plant Tissue Analysis | p. 106 | |
| DIY Test Kits | p. 107 | |
| Determining Soil Texture | p. 109 | |
| Crusted Soil | p. 110 | |
| Quantification of Microbes | p. 111 | |
| Level of Organic Matter | p. 113 | |
| Compaction | p. 114 | |
| Hardpan | p. 115 | |
| Drainage | p. 116 | |
| 10 | Gardening Techniques That Affect Soil | p. 119 |
| Tilling | p. 119 | |
| Working the Land | p. 121 | |
| Mulching | p. 121 | |
| Hoeing | p. 126 | |
| Cover Crops | p. 126 | |
| Raised Bed Gardening | p. 129 | |
| Crop Rotation | p. 130 | |
| Companion Planting | p. 132 | |
| 11 | Solving Chemical Issues | p. 133 |
| Buffer Capacity | p. 133 | |
| Increasing pH | p. 134 | |
| Decreasing pH | p. 135 | |
| Saline and Sodic Soils | p. 136 | |
| Increasing CEC | p. 138 | |
| Synthetic vs Organic Fertilizers | p. 138 | |
| Understanding Fertilizers | p. 140 | |
| Synthetic Fertilizers | p. 142 | |
| Organic Fertilizers | p. 145 | |
| Fad Products | p. 148 | |
| 12 | Solving Microbe Issues | p. 151 |
| Inoculation | p. 152 | |
| Solarization | p. 153 | |
| Controlling Pathogens | p. 154 | |
| Compost Tea | p. 155 | |
| Best Practice for Increasing Microbe Populations | p. 157 | |
| 13 | Increasing Organic Matter | p. 159 |
| Options for Adding Organic Matter | p. 159 | |
| Cover Crops | p. 165 | |
| Vermicompost | p. 167 | |
| Bokashi Compost | p. 167 | |
| Biochar | p. 168 | |
| Biosolids | p. 169 | |
| 14 | Dealing with Structural Problems | p. 171 |
| Compaction | p. 171 | |
| Drainage Issues | p. 173 | |
| Modifying Soil Texture | p. 175 | |
| Clay Soils | p. 175 | |
| Sandy Soils | p. 177 | |
| Section 3 | A Personalized Plan for Healthy Soil | |
| 15 | Developing a Plan for Soil Health Improvement | p. 181 |
| 16 | How Detailed Should You Get? | p. 183 |
| 17 | Soil Health Assessment | p. 185 |
| Chemical Tests | p. 186 | |
| Soil Sampling Instructions | p. 186 | |
| 18 | Soil Health Action Plan | p. 189 |
| Soil Health Assessment | p. 190 | |
| Action Plan | p. 195 | |
| Action Plan Follow-up | p. 195 | |
| Appendix A | Soil Health Assessment Form | p. 197 |
| Appendix B | Action Plan for the Year | p. 201 |
| Index | p. 203 | |
| About the Author | p. 209 | |
| About New Society Publishers | p. 212 |
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