Introduction to the Garden Soil Series in the Alberta Urban Garden
Hi I am Stephen with the Alberta Urban Garden. As a professional biologist and an avid gardener I truly feel that the soil is the cornerstone of a healthy and happy garden.
If there is something every gardener should invest time and if required their money into it’s the soil
On todays episode I am going to start my series on Soil. This series goal is to take a look at the different features and factors that influence your soil and gardening.
We will start with a definition of Soil. Soil is the key to most terrestrial ecosystems. Most everything on land depends on soil directly or indirectly. It is the interface of organic material like decaying leafs and the inorganic materials such as minerals.
It is the site of decomposition of organic matter and the return or minerals and elements to the nutrient cycle. Soils take a very long time to develop in nature which is why I feel strongly we need to take care of it for our own benefit and for the benefit of our children.
From soil plants are able to obtain the water and minerals they need in order to live and produce energy through photosynthesis.
There are many many factors that influence how the soil develops however the general principal is as following.
Soil is formed when organic material like dead plants and minerals from the parent material are combine with environmental conditions like water and erosion with a healthy community of bacteria, fungi and soil invertebrates .
Unlike humans where we consume things like vegetables and convert them to power, plants are able to make their own using photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process in which plants take water, minerals from the soil, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the sun and produce energy in the form of sugars and oxygen as a by-product.
In this series we are going to take a look at things like the nutrient cycle, beneficial practices, common issues that arise and ways to make your soil happier and healthier so that you can grow food easily and efficiently! After all I love to garden and the soil is the cornerstone of a successful garden.
Thank you very much for joining me I appreciate it very much. Please feel free to join the conversation. If you like this video please give it a thumbs up and subscribe. Have a great day.