Soil additives to retain moisture
Soil additives to retain moisture are simple and often necessary tricks growers can turn to when dealing with a dry climate and sandy soil. While many growers complain about root rot in clay and other moist grounds, soil that is too dry is as difficult to manage as it requires watering and fertilizing more frequently. This article will guide you through the following aspects of these problems:
- Soil additives to retain moisture: why use them?
- Organic soil additives to retain moisture
- Soil additives to retain moisture: BAC offer
Soil additives to retain moisture: why use them?
Soil additives to retain moisture are one of the ways to optimize growing in dry conditions. Alabama State University Extension says that ideally, the soil is made up out of one-half airspace and one-half solid soil mineral, as well as about 3% of organic matter. To achieve optimal soil conditions, you should aim for half of the airspace to be filled with water, and the other half – with air. When your soil is too dry, the plants will struggle to capture the water and nutrients they need to thrive. Dry soil is not only the problem of growers in hot and dry climates: extended periods of droughts happen in most geographic locations. Another common reason for dry soil is the lack of organic matter. In the process of plant growth, the nutrients and the organic matter present in the soil get consumed. If one does not feed the soil with more, over time, it becomes dry and fails to retain the water and nutrients the plants need. Luckily, there are soil additives to retain moisture, reverse the drying process, and make your soil a more balanced, healthy growing medium.
Organic soil additives to retain moisture
Many soil additives to retain moisture can be sourced organically. Incorporating compost is one of the most basic and most efficient things you can do. Fully decomposed compost contains high humus content, which is crucial to fertile soil as well as to its water-holding capacity. Try mixing one part compost with three parts soil to prevent it from drying too quickly. Peat moss is your friend, too, when it comes to retaining moisture. When wet, it acts like a sponge, holding up to 20 times its weight of water. Covering your soil with a layer of mulch is another way to keep the moisture in. Grass clippings, straw, wood chips, or other shredded organic material will serve to prevent moisture loss. Those are some easy homemade soil additives to retain moisture.
Soil additives to retain moisture: BAC offer
Professional-made soil additives to retain moisture might be another way to revive your dry soil. Yuccah is one of the excellent BAC products designed to support the efficient use of water. It lowers the surface tension of liquids and improves water-permeable properties. It helps plants to survive extreme heatwaves, droughts and the high salt content of the soil. Contact BAC here to ask any questions about their soil additives to retain moisture.
