Clay soil has a very dense texture so that it can cause drainage problems in plants. Clay soils are found all over the world, leaving farmers, planters and landowners with limited options for growing them. However, you can change or improve the conditions to make it more fertile so that it can be planted with a variety of plants.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Preparing the Land
Step 1. Find out which plants can survive in clay soil
Before starting to cultivate the land, consider using plants that are resistant to clay soil so that you don't have to struggle to improve the condition of the soil. Some plants worth trying include switchgrass, Russian sage, daisies, and hosta.
However, many plants will not thrive in clay soil, even if you cultivate it effectively. Growing plants that like very acidic or very dry soil can be difficult
Step 2. Test the soil pH
The first thing to do to improve soil conditions is to test the soil pH. You can do this using a homemade test strip or a professional kit. If you want to take it seriously, visit your local agriculture office to get a soil testing kit there.
- Go to the agricultural service office for a soil test kit. Instructions for use are included in the package. Send the soil sample to a laboratory in your area. During the growing season, you may have to wait a little longer for the test results because many people also do soil testing. The test results will provide a detailed analysis, including soil composition, pH levels, and any changes that need to be made to make the soil in good cultivating conditions.
- pH is a measure of the basicity and acidity of an object. The scale starts from 0 to 14. 0 means very acidic, 7 is neutral, and 14 means very alkaline.
Step 3. Test the pH of the water
Making the soil more acidic is meaningless if the water you use to water your plants is very alkaline. Do not be lazy, test the pH of the soil and water at the same time. Most water is slightly alkaline, which may give good or bad results depending on the plants you choose.
- If the water is alkaline, you have "hard" water. Usually, the water taken from the ground is hard water and does not corrode the water pipes used to deliver it. Acidic water is "soft". Soft water is obtained by removing magnesium and calcium from the water.
- As a safe option, use purified, filtered water. Pure filtered water is neutral so it will not affect the pH of the soil. Even so, you have to pay more to use it.
Step 4. Try doing a percolation test
The percolation test is used to determine whether the soil can drain water well. Dig a hole 60 cm deep by 30 cm wide. Put water in the hole, then wait for the water to run out. After that, put the water back in a second time, and write down the time it takes for this water to seep and disappear from the hole:
- If the water is absorbed in less than 12 hours, you can plant any plant that requires soil that drains water well.
- If the water is absorbed in between 12 and 24 hours, you can grow plants that do well in loamy, dense soil.
- If the water takes more than 24 hours to absorb completely, then you can only grow plants that are resistant to waterlogging, such as balsam fir and red maple.
Step 5. Improve the soil that has no humus
If the soil contains no humus at all, use plowing or plowing to break up the compacted soil so the plants can grow well. Plow the soil to a depth of 15 cm (preferably 20 cm). The plow is slightly wider than the planting area. This gives the plant roots ample room to grow when needed.
- If you don't have a plow, use a hoe, garden fork, or shovel to loosen the soil and give it airflow. The advantage of the plow is that you won't damage any important soil structure, which will help the growth of microorganisms in it. However, the plow will only circulate air in the soil, without being able to break up lumps of clay after the soil is loosened.
- If there is a layer of humus on top of the loam, do not plow. Under these conditions, plowing will exacerbate the problem because the humus will mix with the clay.
Part 2 of 2: Improving the Land
Step 1. Do not till the clay soil is wet
Start tilling the soil in the dry season. Wet clay soils easily compact, making it more difficult to cultivate. Take advantage of all the things that are useful for cultivating clay soil. So even if it's a minor issue, this timing is a useful one.
Step 2. Till the ground a little more than needed
Measure the area of land you want to cultivate. It is recommended that you cultivate the soil a little wider. Small cultivated land may seem sufficient for plants, but when the roots begin to grow and reach the clay, the roots will bend and return to the tilled soil. This will interfere with plant root growth.
Step 3. Improve the soil according to the test results
Most clay soils are alkaline, so you'll need to lower the pH of the soil. This can be done in several ways. Materials that are often used to mix with clay include building sand, manure, gypsum, compost, and other coarse organic materials.
- Gypsum and sand can improve drainage and increase air pockets by breaking down clay particles. You should use coarse sand such as building sand, not fine sand used for children's toys (this can make soil conditions worse).
- Organic matter is useful for plants to get the right nutrients and helps increase the amount of humus (don't confuse it with "hummus" sauce) because it has additional microbes that will form fertile soil. It can also lower the pH of the soil, which makes it more acidic.
- Try mixing coarse sand (for building) with an equal amount of coarse organic matter. Since this mixture will be spread over a wide range, you'll need to make it in bulk. Don't measure it in centimeters, but do it in cubic meters. One cubic meter of mixture can be spread over 30 square meters of land with a thickness of 3 cm. Purchase organic matter in bulk at a seed seller or farm store. If you buy it in a small bag, it will be much more expensive.
Step 4. Start by spreading 1 cubic meter of organic matter over a 10 x 10 meter area
Start with organic ingredients first. If it has blended with the clay, the organic matter spreads and becomes invisible. Don't worry, the material is still there to do its job.
Step 5. Spread one cubic meter of building sand on the same 10 x 10 meter area (which has been treated with organic matter)
Mix the sand with organic matter and clay using a plowing machine. If you don't have a plow machine, rent one at a hardware store for a low price.
- If you can't find good building sand, you can use green sand or gypsum instead. Both of these materials are more expensive, but have the same function, namely to break down clay particles to increase the flow of air and water in the soil.
- Gypsum has been shown to be effective in areas with high salt content.
Step 6. Monitor soil pH levels regularly
Watch the pH change carefully. Most plants cannot withstand drastic changes in pH or soil conditions. So, make sure the pH of the soil has not changed drastically again before you start planting.
Step 7. Increase soil acidity if needed
Clay soils are generally very alkaline. Therefore, you will need to change the pH of the soil to a more acidic one. You can do this in several ways:
- Giving fertilizer based on ammonia
- Adding elemental sulfur or ferrous sulfate
- Add cottonseed flour, sphagnum moss, or other compost.
Step 8. Avoid using automatic spraying systems to water plants
Clay soils have a high ability to retain water, so an automatic spraying system can submerge plants if unattended. Don't use an automatic sprayer (and you could save money), and watch the plant to determine the amount of water needed.
Tips
- If your home is far from the farm service, go to a gardening community center, garden supply store, or farm shop to inquire about a place that sells soil testing kits. Your local university or college may provide agricultural consultancy that can help you.
- When planting in clay soil, dig holes and make lots of scratches on the sides of the excavation walls so that the surface is uneven. This can help plant roots penetrate the clay. If the walls of the hole are flat, plant roots will grow in a circle in the hole.
- Don't cultivate the soil you use to stockpile crops. This can cause plant roots to only grow in a small area. Fill the planting hole with the soil you dug from the hole, then fertilize a larger area later to encourage plant root growth and make it spread.
