I don’t have the background for this but I still feel like this is pretty funny.
Iron oxides bond with available phosphorus in soil and prevent it from being used by plants. Tropical soils are really P deficient due to this.
You could add literal tons of P fertilizers only to see very short term benefit, with the soil returning to its pre-application state
What is the use of phosphorus that isn’t available to plants?
P has a lot of fractions (forms) with only the soluble inorganic forms and some organically bound forms available.
Other organic forms are present in microbes and the soil biome to support living critters (ATP).
Other more recalcitrant forms serve only to replenish the soluble and organic pools
What ways can you provide phosphorus in your soil without added fertilizers?
I’ve been using white clover in my garden as a way to add nitrogen. I’m also assuming that by having more root structure in the soil, there is more of a home for the microbes and other living life in the soil. The soil has also stayed moist on the surface longer which I again assume is good for anything living below the surface.
My goal is to have a no till, low watering veggie garden and hopefully I’m going in the right direction.
Tillage isn’t bad if you are using it to incorporate organic amendments.
if you plant very deep rooting plants, they can pull P from deeper horizons, but it’s slow. Test your soil, determine your P goals, and then apply an amendment, such as wood ash (careful with pH)
This year was the first year I’ve had a garden so it’s been more of a learning experience than anything but I’m hoping to create and maintain a patch of healthy, living soil.
I’m not sure if this community covers that area of soil just yet but I do appreciate the bits of knowledge coming from here.
I’ll definitely keep this in mind and consider testing my soil next year to see if I can get a better understanding of what’s going on down there.
Yes we cover it. Post away.
I don’t understand anything in this community but I love that you guys are so into what you do.
Come and learn and as questions! We are friendly but hyper nerds
