soil conditioner
Dirt health booster
A soil conditioner is any substance added to soil to improve its physical properties—structure, drainage, aeration, or water retention.
Compost, peat moss, gypsum, and vermiculite are common soil conditioners.
Unlike fertilizers, which primarily add nutrients, soil conditioners focus on making soil more hospitable to plant roots: The clay was so dense we had to work in soil conditioner before planting.
Decayed organic fertilizer
- perliteHeat-popped volcanic glass
- vermiculiteExpandable insulating mineral
- biocharCharred biomass soil amendment
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
coir · gypsum · lime · sphagnum · mulch · bark · sand · peat moss
Element seven, colorless gas
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
- potassiumNineteenth element, symbol K
- micronutrientsVital substances needed minimally
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
pH balance · trace elements · bioavailability · earthworms · mycorrhizae · beneficial bacteria · chelation · mineralization
Earthworm digestive output
- vermicompostWorm-digested organic material
- compost teaBrewed soil amendment
- bone mealCrushed skeletal fertilizer
- blood mealDried, powdered animal protein
guano · bat guano · fish meal · wood ash · dolomite · Epsom salt
From living matter
- biodegradableAble to decompose naturally
- renewableCapable of restoration
- permacultureSustainable ecosystem design method
- vermicompostingDecomposition using earthworms
mulching · regenerative · carbon sequestration · composting · no-till · sustainable agriculture · erosion control · water conservation
compost
Decayed organic fertilizer
- perliteHeat-popped volcanic glass
- vermiculiteExpandable insulating mineral
- biocharCharred biomass soil amendment
humus · coir · gypsum · lime · sphagnum · mulch · bark · sand · peat moss · leaf mold
nitrogen
Element seven, colorless gas
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
- potassiumNineteenth element, symbol K
- micronutrientsVital substances needed minimally
organic matter · pH balance · trace elements · bioavailability · earthworms · mycorrhizae · beneficial bacteria · chelation · mineralization · aeration
worm castings
Earthworm digestive output
- vermicompostWorm-digested organic material
- compost teaBrewed soil amendment
- bone mealCrushed skeletal fertilizer
blood meal · guano · bat guano · fish meal · wood ash · dolomite · Epsom salt
organic
From living matter
- biodegradableAble to decompose naturally
- renewableCapable of restoration
- permacultureSustainable ecosystem design method
vermicomposting · mulching · regenerative · carbon sequestration · composting · no-till · sustainable agriculture · erosion control · water conservation · closed-loop
soil conditionerchemical pollutant
Harmful manufactured substance released environmentally
toxic waste · toxic runoff · industrial runoff · hardpan · compaction
soil conditionersoil depletion
Loss of ground fertility
overfarming · monocropping · desertification · erosion · strip mining
soil, soiled, conditions, soils, conditioned, conditioning, soiling, conditioner, unsoiled