Green & Growing

Soil is made up of grains of rocks, air, nutrients needed by plants. Organic plus macro nutrients (calcium, magnesium, and sulwater and organic material. The grains of matter is often added to sandy soil to fur) and trace elements control how well our plants rock have various sizes. Sand has the improve its moisture holding capacity. grow. Stunted growth and/or curled or off-color largest particles, silt is smaller, and clay Raised beds filled with loam may be used leaves are some of the indications of nutrient defihas the smallest particle size. One writer when adding organic material to soil has ciency. A soil test done by the University of made a comparison illustration by saying not been successful. Organic matter also Minnesota Soil Test laboratory will indicate wheththat a sand particle was like a basketball reduces soil compaction making it easier er additional fertilizer is needed. Go to soiltest. when compared to a silt particle which GREEN AND for plant roots to expand and grow. cfans.umn.edu for directions and submission forms. was baseball size and a clay particle which was like a marble in size. Soil particles are created by the weathGROWING By Linda G. Tenneson Ideal soil contains nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They are the ingredients found in purThanks to Elizabeth Murphy whose book, “Building Soil, A Down to Earth Approach,” was one of the sources for this article. ering of rocks. Rocks may crack and break due to temperature changes as in water accumulating in cracks, freezing, and then expanding. Plants may chased fertilizer indicated by the three numbers on the packages. Too much or too little of these three, Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota master gardener and tree care advisor. v also grow in cracks and their stem expansion breaks rocks apart. Water flowing over rocks slowly changes their shape and reduces them in size. Beginning farmers tax break still available

The minerals in the soil determine its color. Red ST. PAUL — A tax credit for the sale or lease of percent of the gross rental income of each of the first, or yellow soil contains iron. A white crust on the land, equipment, machinery and livestock in second and third years of a rental agreement, up to a surface indicates that too much salt has accumulat- Minnesota by beginning farmers is still available maximum of $7,000 per year; and 15 percent of the ed. through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s cash equivalent of the gross rental income in each of

The space between soil particles contains the air, Rural Finance Authority. the first, second or third year of a share rent agreewater and organic material plant roots need to grow. The farmer cannot be related by blood or marriage ment, up to a maximum of $10,000 per year. Sandy soil has more space between particles and so (e.g., a parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sib- The Beginning Farmer Tax Credit is available on a it drains quickly and must be watered more often. ling) to the person from whom he or she is buying or first-come, first-served basis. Applications must be Silt particles may stick together creating water- renting assets. The farmer must provide most of the received by Oct. 1. Application forms and more inforlogged soils. Clay particles stick to everything and labor and management of the farm. mation can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/bftc. often compacts holding water and nutrients so closely that plant roots cannot use them. The tax credit for the sale or lease of assets can then be applied to the Minnesota income taxes of the Interested farmers should note that they can also apply for a separate tax credit to offset the cost of a

Soil also contains living organisms that are too owner of the agricultural land or other assets. financial management program up to a maximum of small to be seen without a microscope. The organic material (often called hummus) in soil is the result of plants dying and biodegrading; plus bacteria or fungi operating on them along with the actions of Three levels of credits are available: 5 percent of the lesser of the sale price or fair market value of the agricultural asset up to a maximum of $32,000; 10 $1,500 per year – for up to three years. This article was submitted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. v earthworms, insects and animals.

Burrowing animals and insects eat plant roots, leaves and plant material that has been left on the soil surface. These creatures in turn create waste products which are left in the soil.

Most gardening is done in the topsoil where organic material has been deposited. Leaves, grass clippings and weeds pulled from the soil but left on the surface will also biodegrade and create hummus, which helps air and water to stay in the soil. Loam is the desired gardening soil texture because it contains the best combination of soil particles and