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Soil Erosion Problems and Solutions

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How to Keep Plants Warm With Burlap Netting and Blankets

Burlap has many uses, and thanks to its strength, adaptability, and reliability, it is an extremely useful product for a range of gardening situations. Burlap is a heavy-duty fabric manufactured from the skin of the jute plant. Typically, burlap is used to make rope, nets, bags, and other products. Gardeners frequently call upon burlap netting to help keep their plants warm during winter. This guide will cover why it’s necessary to keep your plants warm, the advantages of using burlap, and how to use burlap netting for your plants.

Why Do I Need Burlap Netting to Keep My Plants Warm?

As the year progresses, many plants aren’t able to survive the frigid temperatures and harsh conditions associated with winter. If certain types of plants are exposed to winter weather, they can die due to the extreme conditions. However, not all plants need to be protected when it’s cold and snowy outside. 

While some plants, such as certain kinds of perennials, can withstand winter conditions, it’s important to protect those that are unable to tolerate winter temperatures. This is where burlap netting comes into play. A tried-and-true gardening product, burlap is an important material that acts as a barrier to defend plants from cold weather. It also helps prevent winter burn caused by a combination of harsh winter sunlight and dry soil.

Benefits of Using Burlap

Burlap offers the perfect insulation for your plants and is relatively inexpensive to use. Additionally, burlap netting keeps plants warm and sheltered from all kinds of winter weather, including frost, snow, and ice. In comparison to plastic, burlap is more effective and provides better air circulation, which helps the plant breathe more naturally and efficiently. Environmentally conscious gardeners will appreciate burlap’s ability to biodegrade, making it a healthier choice for the environment as opposed to plastic netting or netting made from other synthetic materials.

How to Use Burlap Netting

If you’d like to use burlap netting to cover your plants for the winter, it’s a quick and straightforward process requiring only a few steps. To start, simply put a few wooden stakes around the plant you wish to cover. Allow a few inches between the stakes and the plant, so you’re not crowding the plant. Next, place at least two layers of burlap around each of the stakes, and anchor the burlap to the stakes. 

It is important to note that you should not allow the burlap to touch the plant, if possible, because in icy or snowy conditions, the burlap could get wet and freeze to the plant and damage it. When warmer weather arrives, all you have to do is remove the burlap from the plants and remove the stakes from the ground.

You’re all set to tackle winter and shield your plants from ice and snow using burlap netting. Burlap netting has many benefits that make it an effective barrier between your plants and harsh weather. Try using burlap netting this winter to keep your plants safe and warm during freezing temperatures.

The Causes and Effects of Soil Compaction

Soil is the foundation on which everything else is built. Life and the experience of life need soil to grow, prosper, and create. Soil is responsible for growing food, nutrients, and shelter while it provides a foundation for homes, roads, and buildings. When soil is stable and of excellent quality, air and water circulate for maximum plant growth, erosion is minimal, and insects and microbes make their homes where they are most beneficial. Soil compaction has both positive and negative implications depending on how and why the soil was compacted. While compaction might aid construction, it doesn’t bode well for crops and harvests.

Soil compaction is most often seen on farmland and areas where land is cultivated as heavy machinery passing over land presses soil into itself. When people use heavy machinery, 70 to 80% of soil compaction takes place on the first pass. Yet the compression of soil has its benefits when used to the right advantage.

What is Soil Compaction?

When soil aggregates or particles are pressed together constantly and over time, soil compaction takes place. Soil compaction and its resulting issues must be considered when planting new crops, building roadways, or during restoration.

To illustrate soil compaction, consider a slice of bread. This slice of bread is probably full of varying sizes of holes that allow air and liquid to pass through. If the slice is squeezed until it gets doughy, the result is a lump that’s been smashed and pressed together to make it smaller and denser. This makes it much more difficult for air and liquid to penetrate. Compacted soil reacts the same way — heavy, dense, and less likely to absorb water or nutrients, which will starve roots.

Soil compaction presses soil particles together to reduce pore size. As soil pores are reduced, soil volume is affected and much less likely to drain, just as water rolls off the mushed slice of bread. When soil’s density is increased, infiltration slows and gas exchange is reduced, causing a reduction in soil nutrients and fertility.

Soil compaction also compromises soil strength. When the soil is dense and of low porosity, roots have a harder time digging down through compacted layers to take hold.

Effects of Soil Compaction

Soil compaction has far-reaching implications as it affects all stages of soil life. Burrowing animals may have difficulty creating a habitat from compacted soil which will impact soil formation. Compacted soil increases the likelihood of aeration problems that impacts rooting plants. The flow of nutrients may drastically slow and impact crop and harvest schedules.

Plants and animals aren’t the only ones who need nutrition; soil does as well. If the soil isn’t fed properly, it cannot feed roots properly. When a root tries to make its way through soil and reaches a depth it can no longer push through, it will grow in horizontally resulting in a pancake effect. This stunts the growth of the plant and minimizes its ability to draw water and nutrition from the soil. As one plant is affected, so are all. Crop yields may be drastically reduced due to soil compaction.

The structure of the soil is another essential factor in the effects of compaction. When soil structure is destabilized, compaction from external pressure is easier to achieve. Soils subject to heavy traffic are slower to warm when compared with less compacted soils.

Try reshaping the slice of bread from earlier. Although the slice might be formed back into a square shape, its integrity has forever been altered and it is no longer what it once was.

Causes of Soil Compaction

Soil compaction is most often seen when machinery or automobiles pass over the surface. Soil types also have an influence on compaction depending on their moisture level and the contents of the soil’s organic matter. Organic matter works with other elements to bind soil particles together. Areas of land susceptible to compaction might contain wet soil that is much more likely to bind and compact.

When is Soil Compaction Desired?

Soil compaction is sometimes an end result. Take for instance the case of infrastructures like roadways and bridges. Considering that compacted soil is often strengthened by making it heavier due to the force of pressing soil particles together, this makes it desirable as a base for something like a highway.

The soil under man-made structures must be stable and less likely to erode or otherwise be carried away. Housing is also where soil compaction is necessary and welcomed for a solid foundation where there will be less settling or disturbance of the underlying soil structure.

Machines such as vibrating rollers or compactors are designed for just this purpose. Proof rolling, or test rolling, is a method used to determine if the soil will bear the long-term impacts of compaction and construction. 

 Minimizing Compaction

Since wet soil is more easily compacted than dry, it is best to stay off saturated lands to avoid compressing the soil with machinery. Increasing water infiltration and storage ability by incorporating natural coir geotextiles to help soil drain and aerate efficiently. Create more efficient practices around planting and harvest to stay off the land as much as possible and allow for nature to work unobstructed.

Compaction can be tested with a simple test. Drive a stake into the ground where there is little to no machinery or heavy traffic. Note how far the stake can be driven and the number of strikes to drive it to that depth. Now do the same in areas where compaction is suspected. Note the number of strikes to drive the stake as well as its corresponding depth. Although it’s not foolproof, this method gives a rudimentary assessment of soil compaction.

Soil compaction can have its upside if it is part of the underlying foundation of concrete, asphalt, etc., to build homes and roadways, but when compaction takes place and interferes with growth and production, it becomes a problem. The good news is that soil compaction takes place primarily from human activity and human interventions can minimize its impact.

Everything You Need to Know About Soil Maps

Soil maps are an essential tool when it comes to land management. As knowledge about the environment grows, experts are learning that what is done in one area can have farther reaching impacts on the surrounding area. Mapping sustainable and unsustainable land for the long term is an excellent way to ensure proper planning, and the best way to move forward. Think of soil maps as a much larger version of testing the soil in your garden. Let’s deep dive into this topic and see how it can help your gardening efforts.

At the beginning of your growing season, most farmers and gardeners make the decision to test their soil. It’s important to determine whether or not you need to add fertilizer to your garden to provide your plants with the elements they need to grow strong and healthy. You don’t want to plant your garden with too much or not enough of a particular nutrient in the ground. In the long run, this practice could cause problems with your plants not performing as expected. 

What Are Soil Maps?

Think about how your backyard garden is set up. You may have several different types of soil to work with around the yard. For instance, you may not use the back portion because it has heavier clay soil, while the middle of your backyard has better soil for your garden’s vegetable plants. This soil is more conducive to successful gardening without requiring any changes, unlike the clay areas. On a smaller scale, when you test your garden soil, you’re creating your own soil map. 

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service collects data and creates soil maps. They collect web soil survey data from throughout the country that examines the soil in detail. They then compile the web soil survey data into the soil maps. The maps will describe and classify the type of soil found in these areas. Soil-type maps can then help determine land management practices based on what dirt is located in that particular area.

How Are Soil Maps Made?

The USDA creates soil maps through a variety of means. They go out to the region they are mapping and compile data through physical field sampling and technology. They collect additional data through aerial photography and other sensing technology.

Technology has changed how the USDA maps the regions where they gather data. In the past, researchers had to use paper maps, cameras with film that needed to be developed, and topographic sheets to input their data. 

Now, they can use tablets that offer GPS and all of the map equipment they need on it. Their digital photos and other data can all be combined using the tablet, to create the soil map as they go along. An additional technological benefit is that in the past these surveys had to be printed. It could take years for the public to have access, which left the potential for the public to only have access to outdated information. That’s no longer the case with the use of tablets, computers, and online publishing. 

Information Included in the USDA Soil Survey

A USDA soil survey includes a wide variety of information that provides all of the data. It starts with an overview of the geography of the area, data about the major soil types, detailed pictures, and information on crops and plants located in the area. It also includes in-depth information on the soil, such as depth of the dirt, texture, and permeability.

Value of USDA Soil Survey Maps

To many, dirt is just dirt. The soil is so much more than that, though, as the qualities of the earth can differ from place to place. Land can have limitations and benefits that prompted experts to create a classification system for clay that’s called soil taxonomy. This taxonomy establishes a basis for the proper agricultural and engineering applications available for the soil that exists in a particular spot. 

Who Uses Soil Maps?

It may seem like soil maps aren’t something accessible for anyone outside of the US government but these maps are beneficial to other groups. Anyone can get access to the soil maps the USDA creates. The plans are available to the public and have a variety of uses. People can visit the Web Soil Survey site or WSS to access the data and create their own custom soil survey of the areas they choose.

What are Soil Maps Used For?

Developers and builders can use these maps to help in planning out their buildings. The structure of the soil can be crucial to whether or not the area can support development. The ground may be more beneficial for a particular type of construction, or it may show that building in that site isn’t advisable. 

Businesses that work with soil, such as farms and ranches, can use soil maps to determine where they should plant their fields or graze their livestock. They can use the information from the soil survey to determine if they should move their flocks to another area or if they should leave a particular field fallow. It can also help if they plan on expanding their farms with an additional property, to give them an idea of whether or not the soil in the area can support their plans.  

Even homeowners can benefit from using soil maps. The maps can help them when it comes to starting a garden, planting trees, picking out a new home, or even adding on to an existing home. The information can allow you to make an educated decision on matters that pertain to the land around you.

Whether it’s a prominent developer building a new shopping plaza or a homeowner trying to determine the best place in their backyard to grow vegetables, soil mapping is beneficial. The soil that’s under every building, park, farm, and place on earth has a story to tell. Soil maps make it possible to make the right decision for future soil planning on every level.  

Best Ways to use Straw Blankets in Your Garden

Straw blankets, also called erosion control blankets, are frequently used in commercial construction projects to prevent topsoil from shifting. However, gardeners have known for years that straw and other organic materials are equally useful in residential landscaping and gardening projects.

The term ‘straw blanket’ has become a catch-all term for organic erosion control products, including coir mats in both woven and non-woven varieties. It’s also used to mean the layer of loose straw that gardeners have traditionally scattered over their bulbs for protection in colder months.

How to Use Straw Blankets

As mentioned above, a traditional use for straw blankets is winter protection for your plants. As a winter insulator, straw blankets are highly effective. The standard straw layer provides little in the way of nutrients but is an excellent way to maintain a safe temperature for bulbs and perennials.

Coir blankets can protect plants but have the added benefit of being highly resistant to mold, fungus, and bacteria, which can be a problem for a traditional straw layer in winter. They also retain moisture effectively, which can ensure your plants still receive the appropriate amount of water while remaining protected from the elements.

Coir blankets can also be used as an elevated insulator. By staking coir blankets above and around exposed plants, you can easily protect them from snow and ice while maintaining a stable temperature below the blankets.

Using Straw Blankets in Summer

Straw blankets serve a purpose in the summer months, too. As temperatures rise, topsoil tends to dry out, which can discourage plant growth. As coir absorbs water, it prevents topsoil from drying. Coir blankets also decompose naturally, adding nutrients to the soil and ensuring the longevity of your garden.

Using the blankets in summer can also regulate temperatures, which can be an issue in arid climates. Plants that grow too hot can wilt or even burn; straw blankets prevent this with moisture maintenance.

Straw Blankets and Seeding

Your garden isn’t just about your flowers or vegetables; for many people, ‘gardening’ refers to landscaping as well. Straw blankets, especially those made out of coir, are an excellent way to encourage seedling growth when trying to seed a new yard or re-seed a yard that has bare patches. When you apply the blanket on top of your seeded area, it facilitates germination by providing a consistently moist, temperature-controlled space. And again, by being both bacteria- and fungus-resistant, your grass or flower seeds will be protected from dangers that might otherwise negatively impact their growth potential.

Conclusion

Straw blankets, both traditional and coir versions, have a variety of uses in gardening and landscaping. Both are eco-friendly and are constructed of materials that will eventually degrade, though coir blankets tend to be easier to maintain and don’t require ‘flipping’ or soil integration the way straw does. If you want a high-density, sustainable straw blanket that works well in all environments and is both pet-safe and fungus-resistant, a coir blanket may be your best option.

Soil Erosion in the United States

The United States is one of the top producers of food products worldwide. According to ShareAmerica, the U.S. shipped over $139 billion worth of agricultural products just in 2018. Those are astonishing numbers since U.S. farmers struggle to feed the world despite harsh winters, torrential rains, and hot summers which all contribute to soil loss and erosion.

Why Is Soil Conservation so Important?

Over the last decade, the United States has seen radical changes in weather patterns that are resulting in massive flooding in the Midwest and California where most food crops are grown. Excessive water can compact the soil as well as cause the topsoil to wash away. Hot, dry summers sear the soil, and strong winds carry nutrient-rich topsoil away. 

Without topsoil, food crops can’t be grown, which could spell disaster for farmers trying to feed the population. The nation needs to stop the rapid loss of soil and take actionable steps towards soil conservation so farmers can continue growing much-needed food.

What Is Soil?

Soil covers all of the Earth and is comprised of thousands of components that create a dynamic ecosystem. Without soil, we could not grow food, and trees and plants that provide oxygen and clean the air would not exist. Earth would be an inhospitable place to live without soil. 

Soil is made up of decomposed minerals, water, gases, organic matter, and tiny microorganisms. For soil to support life, it must be porous enough for air and water to filter through so the microorganisms that break down organic and non-organic compounds can survive.

What is Topsoil?

Topsoil is the upper layer of soil between 3-9 inches deep and is rich in organic matter. The topsoil is where the microorganisms live and where most of the biological activity takes place. Decomposed organic matter and minerals are nutrient rich and can be found in the upper layer of soil. Microorganisms help with the decomposition and also help to fix nitrogen which is essential for plant growth. In addition, topsoil is home to worms and beetles that help to keep the soil aerated. 

Topsoil that is dark in color and has a deep earthy smell has the greatest concentration of nutrients available to plants so they can grow and thrive. In addition, rich topsoil has better water availability for plants to access. Keeping and managing topsoil from eroding is vital for agriculture and many farmers today understand the importance of managing topsoil to reduce their dependence on chemical fertilizers and nutrients.

The Importance of Soil Structure

Soil structure and texture help to determine the water holding capacity that soil has. The finer the particles of the soil and the more organic matter there is in the soil, the better the soil water availability is. If there is too much sand, water drains away, and if the soil is made primarily of dense clay, then too much water gets trapped. Soil structure needs the perfect balance of fine and dense for plants to thrive.

What Is Soil Erosion?

Factors that contribute to soil and topsoil erosion are wind, water, reduced amounts of organic matter, poor drainage of the soil, poor soil structure, and overuse of chemicals. Salinization can also be a contributing factor. Topsoil erosion is of great concern because this is where the plants receive nutrients to grow.

Not only does soil erosion take away the nutrients for the plants, but erosion can also have a negative impact on the surrounding environment. When wind or water carries topsoil away, it may end up clogging adjacent watercourses and wetlands which can restrict the flow of water and kill off food supplies to wildlife.

Soil Erosion in the  United States

According to a study by Cornell University, topsoil is disappearing at a terrifying rate in the United States, nearly 10 times faster than it can be replaced. The study states that almost two billion tons of farmland are lost to soil erosion every year resulting in loss of food crops and income.

The majority of food grown in the United States comes from the Midwest or the central valley of California, and both of these areas are seeing massive changes in weather. The loss of soil in the prime agricultural parts of the U.S. could become catastrophic if actionable steps are not taken soon to stop soil erosion.

What Are the Best United States Soil Conservation Service Organizations Available?

Fortunately, there are several organizations that provide a wealth of information about soils, soil erosion, and soil conservation.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) website, Natural Resources Conservation Service, has a lot of great information about soil diversity and soil conservation.

For information and education about soil use and conservation of the nations natural resources, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS) works with private landowners to help create healthy ecosystems.

The National Association of Conservation Districts’ mission is to promote responsible use of all lands, and this includes soil conservation. The organization works with soil dynamics within a specific district of the United States.

Ways to Help Reduce Soil Erosion

There are several ways that farmers large and small can help with soil conservation and the prevention of soil erosion. 

One way is by not plowing, which is often called no-till farming. When a field is tilled after harvest, the topsoil gets turned over. Tilling removes plant matter and destroys beneficial microorganisms. Tilling also kills worms and insects that help to aerate the soil. No-till farming also allows the soil structure to remain intact, helping with its water holding capabilities.

Adding soil amendments, such as coir, can help improve soil’s ability to retain water, especially in soil that is heavily compacted. Coir and other soil amendments can help to loosen dense soils and help improve drainage. Adding amendments also helps to improve nutrient uptake for plants and reduce or eliminate dependency on chemical fertilizers.

Soil conservation, as well as education, are vitally important in reducing and stopping soil erosion in the United States. By helping to conserve the nation’s topsoil, the United States can continue to provide essential food crops to the world.