The Turf[TECH]Report - Getting the Dirt on Soil Amendments

GETTING THE DIRT ON SOIL AMENDMENTS

The success or failure of turf is directly related to the quality of the soil and how it has been treated and/or managed throughout its growth cycle. One way to greatly improve soil quality for turf grass is to apply a soil amendment to condition the soil. Soil amendments are used to enrich the soil and provide a better growing environment for plant roots, which strengthen turf and ensures proper nutrient uptake. But what exactly is a soil amendment, when should you use one and what type should you use? This article will answer these questions and more as we give you the “dirt” on soil amendments.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A SOIL AMENDMENT?

Sportsfield Magazines’, Dr. David Gardner defines soil amendments in his article “The Science of Soil Amendments,” as being:

A soil amendment is anything added to the soil for the purpose of improving either its chemical (pH, nutrient status) or physical (water retention, permeability, drainage) properties. (Gardner, sportsfieldmanagementmagazine.com)

It’s important to understand that a soil amendment is not to be confused with fertilizers because they do not add nutrients to soil for plant growth but rather cultivate a positive growing environment for improved plant growth. Applications of soil amendments should be applied yearly to maintain soil that is loose and healthy allowing proper root growth, nutrient uptake and in some cases a balanced pH level.

WHY APPLY A SOIL AMENDMENT TO A LAWN?

Fertilizing an area is just not enough when preparing and managing a lawn’s health. Although fertilizer can put needed macro nutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium back into the soil, without additional soil treatments nutrients can be locked up in the soil (due to an unbalanced pH), suffer from improper irrigation (caused by compaction/sandy or clay soil) and micro nutrient deficiency (because of natural or over tilled depletion). In order to achieve and maintain successful plant health and function you need to apply a soil amendment that chosen based on need, can result in the following:

• Enhance Nutrient Uptake
• Increase Moisture Storage
• Promote a Healthy Environment for Root Growth
• Assist in Temperature and Drought Hardiness
• Improve Tolerance Against Environmental Stresses, Heat, Dry Weather and Foot Traffic
• Increase Healthy Green and Lush Appearance
• Improve Germination and Seeding Growth
• Neutralize Soil pH
• Enhance Efficiency of Future Fertilizer Uptake by Plants



It’s imperative to test the soil to better understand pH and macro nutrient deficiencies in order to figure out which soil amendment is best suited for each specific lawn. Identifying soil pH is important prior to soil amendment application because you must determine if the soil is acidic or alkaline before you know which product to use. 

WHAT’S THE KEY TO SUCCESS WHEN CHOOSING A SOIL AMENDMENT?

The key to success is properly identifying your soil needs and choosing the best and most effective product. There are a variety of soil amendments on the market that manage different types of soil issues and can be broken down into two different general categories, organic and inorganic:

 ORGANIC SOIL AMENDMENTS

Organic Soil Amendments come from something that was once alive. This type of amendment is great for both chemical and physical soil improvements. Organic amendments include peat, compost and wood ash.

• Peat is a brown , soil-like material characteristic of boggy, acid ground, consisting of partly decomposed vegetable matter. This is semi-renewable resource and is an excellent amendment for sandy soils since it has high water retention and raises pH levels. This is great for soils that are too alkaline since it is retained from a boggy, acidic ground.
• Compost  is a broad category that refers to decomposed organic matter that is not regulated and can include a combination of plant-based compost, biosolids, manure-based composts and other agricultural by-products, such as chicken feathers or straw. Compost can improve soil’s structure water management including better drainage or water holding capability depending on soil type (i.e. sand or clay). Use caution when applying manure-based composts or biosolids since these amendments have a higher salt content. Plant-based compost like grass clippings or wood chip compost are more expensive but contain a low salt content (to reduce cost, you can reuse your own grass clippings). NOTE: Amending a soil is not the same as applying mulch to topsoil because to be a true soil amendment it must be thoroughly mixed into the soil. Mulch is left on top of the soil to reduce evaporation and runoff as well as prevent weed growth.
• Wood ash  is the powder left over after wood has been burned from a fireplace, wood stove or an industrial power plant. Wood ash is high in potassium so when water is added to it, it forms potassium hydroxide, a compound that is highly alkaline. This acts as a natural substitute for lime that will alter the soil’s chemical property by raising the soil pH. Although wood ash amends soil pH, it requires roughly 2-3 times more of the amount of wood ash compared to one application of lime which over time may become costly and time consuming. Other cautions to be aware of is the type of wood being burned for wood ash use because each species of wood contains different percentages of potassium that will affect turf grass. Do NOT use coal, charcoal, lead-painted or chemically treated ashes as they will lead to toxins introduced to plants.

INORGANIC SOIL AMENDMENTS

Inorganic Soil Amendments have been mined or man-made. Depending on the material, this amendment can improve either the physical or chemical properties of soils, but seldom manage both. This includes Lime, Gypsum and Granulated Sulfur.

• Lime products   include calcitic limestone (containing finely ground pure calcium carbonate) and dolomitic lime. The chemical definition of lime is calcium oxide and is defined as being a calcium or calcium-magnesium containing product used on lawns. Lime’s benefits to turf grass alter its chemical properties which makes it capable to neutralize soil acidity by raising soil pH and reducing harmful effects of an imbalanced soil. There are   Enhanced Lime   products available which have added ingredients that increase the effects of lime and improve product benefits. 
•   Gypsum  , also known as calcium sulfate, modifies chemical properties of soil by lowering salt levels which then helps alter its physical properties over time, resulting in increased soil aeration, structure and permeability. Gypsum also replenishes soil’s essential macro-nutrients, calcium and sulfur, that are not applied during fertilization. This amendment is great for any soil type since it will improve soil structure while not altering pH.  TIP:  Gypsum is a perfect soil amendment to use against salt   damage from winter   .
• Granulated Sulfur  is another key player in neutralizing soil by adding more acidity to it. In soil that is too alkaline, an addition of sulfur will change the chemical properties of soil because microorganisms will begin to oxidize the added amendment into sulfuric acid which in turn brings pH to a more acidic level. This process unlocks iron necessary for plant growth, making it more soluble and easier to absorb by plant roots.

Overall, soil amendments are an important addition to the success of a lawn. Even though there are multiple amendments out there it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each.  Although organic amendments are very true to their original form and can alter both chemical and physical soil properties, they can be unpredictable, since mother nature is not regulated, which can cause inconsistent results. Inorganic amendments improve chemical properties rapidly but involve time and an adopted fertilization regime to alter physical properties. Time and consistency will provide desired results. In the end, a regular, healthy turf care routine including proper fertilization,   aeration   ,   watering   , and   mowing   is needed in order to help maintain soil amendments properties in soil. 

For professional fertilizers, humic and AMP-XC™ enriched products available, please visit TurfCare’s online Product Catalog.

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