Soil amendment

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Soil amendment

Soil amendment (pronunciation: /sɔɪl əˈmɛndmənt/), also known as soil conditioner, is a substance added to soil to improve its physical properties, such as water retention, permeability, water infiltration, drainage, aeration, and structure. The goal is to provide a better environment for roots.

Etymology

The term "soil amendment" is derived from the Latin word "amendare", meaning 'to correct, free from fault', and the English word "soil", which refers to the upper layer of earth in which plants grow.

Types of Soil Amendments

There are two general categories of soil amendments: organic and inorganic.

  • Organic amendments come from something that is or was alive. Organic amendments include sphagnum peat, wood chips, grass clippings, straw, compost, manure, biosolids, sawdust, and wood ash.
  • Inorganic amendments, on the other hand, are either mined or man-made. Inorganic amendments include vermiculite, perlite, tire chunks, pea gravel, and sand.

Related Terms

  • Compost: A type of organic soil amendment made from decomposed plant material.
  • Fertilizer: A substance added to soil to supply nutrients necessary for plant growth.
  • pH: A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a soil, which can be adjusted with soil amendments.
  • Soil structure: The arrangement of soil particles into small clumps, a characteristic that can be improved with soil amendments.
  • Soil texture: The relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay in a soil, which can be altered with soil amendments.

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