How To Add Nutrients To Soil?
If you are wondering how to add nutrients to soil, then this is the right place to know about it. In order to grow and bloom, plants need essential nutrients and trace elements that they absorb from the soil. If you wish to have healthy plants that produce a strong yield, you need to ensure that your garden soil is rich in these nutrients. Now, while sure soil may have all of them initially, some nutrients are bound to deplete over time.
In such a case, the only solution is to timely add the needed nutrients to your soil. A soil test is a great way to determine it. However, once you know what major elements your soil is lacking, how to add nutrients to the soil? If you are looking for a solution to the same, this is just the right place for you. Let us find out all about soil nutrients and how to add them to the soil.
What Are Soil Nutrients?
Before we find out how to add nutrients to soil, let us first tell you about what soil nutrients actually are. For those who are not aware, in order to grow well, plants need various nutrients. Of all of these, three are the most essential. These major soil nutrients are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K).
The reason why they are the most crucial among the other 14 essential nutrients is that they are needed by plants in relatively large amounts and in a certain ratio. This ratio is the NPK ratio. All these three nutrients in the ratio contribute to the growth and development of a plant to a great extent. They have their own unique functions.
For instance, plants need nitrogen for vegetative growth. Phosphorus, on the other hand, is needed for the growth of roots and shoots. Lastly, for flowering and producing fruits plants need potassium. Along with these three nutrients, there are other essential nutrients and trace elements. Some examples of these include Boron, Copper, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron, etc.
1How to Put Life Back into Your Soil?
If you notice that your plants are not growing well, chances are your soil may lack some nutrients. The best way to confirm this suspicion is by getting the soil tested. Once you do so, here is how to add nutrients to the soil without synthetic fertilizers. Have a look:
Banana Peels
If you are wondering how to add nutrients to the soil for indoor plants, the first way is by using banana peels. These are a great way to provide potassium to your garden or potting soil. Apart from potassium, these are also rich in small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium. So, if your soil lacks any of these, it is a great idea to use banana peels.
In order to use banana peels for healthy plant growth, you need to lay them on top of the soil. Make sure to do so two/three inches from the plant’s stem. Alternatively, you can also decide to bury them underneath the soil or prepare sprays using them.
Coffee
The next thing you can use to add nutrients to the soil is coffee. Yes, that’s right! Coffee grounds are acidic and are perfect to provide nitrogen to your soil and for acid-loving plants. In order to use coffee for this, simply sprinkle fresh and dry coffee grounds on your plants. Make sure that these are rinsed and used. Alternatively, you can add coffee grounds to your compost pile and then use them to nourish your soil.
Ash
The next solution for “how to add nutrients to old soil” is wood ash from stoves and fireplaces. It is an excellent solution if you are looking for a source of potassium for your soil. Along with it, ash also has phosphorus, magnesium, aluminum, copper, sulfur, zinc, sodium, and boron. Not only this, but if your soil has a low pH, this can also come in handy to raise it. In order to use it, you simply need to spread it on the surface of the soil and then rake it in.
Compost
A simple solution for how to add nutrients to the soil for grass is with the help of organic matter. Compost is a great example of this. It is a nutrient-packed fertilizer and can be easily made by adding even kitchen waste to a compost pile. Once it decays and decomposes naturally, it is ready to use. Unlike chemical fertilizers that can harm plants, compost is organic. If you use it the right way, it will enrich your soil without causing any harm to the plants.
2Epsom Salt
The next thing you can use to enrich your soil with nutrients is Epsom Salt/Magnesium Sulfate. This is the best for healthy seeds germinating and bushier plant growth. Mixing it in your soil also helps plants in the production of chlorophyll and can even help you get rid of pests.
Eggshells
If you are wondering how to add nutrients to the soil for a vegetable garden, eggshells are a great option too. These are made of calcium and can easily mix with your soil to provide it with some necessary nutrients. Also, these help the soil regulate its acidity levels.
Manure
The last solution that you can use for your query – “how to add nutrients to sandy soil,” is manure. For those who are not aware, it is the use of animal feces to provide nutrients to the soil. And believe us or not, it is a top-notch nourishment technique. However, before you decide to use it for your soil, make that it is composted.
3Final Thoughts
So, this is how to add nutrients to soil organically. Always keep in mind that unhealthy soil will only yield unhealthy plants. Therefore, make sure to get it tested frequently, and provide it with that much-needed nutrition. Now if you are wondering “how often should I add nutrients to the soil,” you should know that this will depend on the type of plants that are present in your garden. That being said, it is always a good idea to come up with a feeding cycle for your soil and at least provide it with some organic matter.
References
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