"\What is Ideal Soil?

Soils must be considered as a living system - an interface between soil biology, chemistry, and physics. Healthy soils have billions of microbes per tablespoon. Calcium is the predominate nutrient (ion ~ atom) in soil chemistry. Manage the soil's chemistry and physics, and the biology naturally follows.

5% Organic Matter - Decaying trash-organic matter - made into humic acid by microbes

• Humus, humic acid (organic complex molecules) protein enzymes, carbon, vitamins, growth regulators, sugars and amino adds to name a few.
• Natural chelater & greatly reduces leaching.
• You want all your nitrogen (ammonia) and sulfur in this form.
• You want microbes to feed on organic trash (carbon) and assimilate nutrients such as calcium, phosphate. and metals.

45% Rock Minerals - Volcanic in origin - rock minerals

• Calcium carbonate (lime), calcium phosphate, gypsum, and shells.
• Clay- expanding and non expanding which microbes find nutrients & produce sugar. High ability to keep nutrients from leaching.
• You want all your nitrogen (ammonia) and sulfur in this form.
• This chemistry fraction of the soil is responsible for the beginning of the whole growth process.
• 70% - 80% of the soil needs to be calcium dominated.
• Want 7 parts calcium to one part magnesium.
• Calcium is the queen and king of nutrients.
• Rock Phosphate and bone meal (Ca3P2O5).
• Gypsum (CaSO4).

25% - Air

25% - Water

Building healthy soil takes time and inputs. In time, erosion will be virtually eliminated, and water needs will be dramatically reduced. Insect and disease problems will be all but eliminated. After your soils arc built (healthy) inputs will only be needed in order to maintain fertility. Nitrogen is the number one cause of insect and disease problems. Optimum soil pH 6.2 - 6.4.

• Healthy soil will not stick to your shoes or hands.
• Healthy soil smells like the earth (forest).
• Quality fruit will not rot."

Ed