Soil baking powder: top 10 types and their functions, how to use them

At the stage of preparing the beds for planting, it is recommended to use a variety of fertilizers - organic or mineral. However, this is not enough. In order for the plants to develop normally, it is required to use special soil disintegrators. They have a complex effect - they saturate the soil with air, make plants more resistant to temperature changes, and have a disinfecting effect.

Baking powder functions

Using baking powder for the garden helps to achieve a number of beneficial effects:

1. Saturate the soil with air. Due to the heterogeneous structure, loosening agents form air cavities in the soil, which include a lot of oxygen. This helps improve plant development. In addition, earth baking powder prevents the formation of soil crust.
2. Reduce temperature fluctuations. Thanks to this, the root system of plants feels comfortable even in cool weather. This is especially important for young crops in the spring, when there are sharp temperature fluctuations. Due to this, it is possible to protect the roots from stress and avoid the development of fungal and bacterial pathologies. However, not all substances help to achieve such results. Coarse sand, small pebbles, crushed bricks are best suited for this task.
3. Decontaminate the soil. Loosening components stop the development of abnormal flora and protect cultures from infection. In addition, there are a number of compounds that have the function of antiseptics. These include algae, moss, coal.

How to quickly determine soil properties?

To choose the right loosening agent, it is recommended to determine the type of soil. To do this, you can do the following:

• hand over the soil to the laboratory;
• self-determine the composition of the substrate.

Of course, the first method is considered the most effective. However, it is not available to everyone. Therefore, you can try to evaluate the characteristics of the soil yourself. To do this, it is required to moisten it with water and blind the ball. If the figurine falls apart, then the ground is light. If you can twist a cord or a ring out of the ground, it says that it is quite heavy.

Soil raising agents for seedlings

To make the soil looser, you can use a variety of means. They differ in composition and properties.

Perlite

This material perfectly absorbs moisture. It is sterile and does not deteriorate. Perlite is suitable for germinating and rooting cuttings. With it, you can make the soil more porous and airy. The composition is sold in flower shops.

Vermiculite

This is a mineral baking powder that has a layered structure. It prevents caking of the substrate and helps to avoid its acidification. The substance prevents the formation of mold or moss on the surface. In addition, vermiculite, along with moisture, accumulates valuable elements and gradually gives them to plants.

The tool can be used for rooting cuttings and planting seed. If mixed with soil, it can be used to grow seedlings. In very wet soil, vermiculite should be applied dry. If the soil is dry, it should be soaked directly with the substrate.

The indisputable advantage of vermiculite is its naturalness. The tool is mined in the Murmansk region and subjected to heat treatment. It helps increase absorbency and increase volume.

Sand

This material is a natural baking powder.To improve the composition of the soil, it is recommended to add 20 kilograms of sand per 1 square meter of loam. The substance must be evenly distributed over the surface of the beds, and then dig them to a depth of 20 centimeters.

Peat can be added to the alkaline substrate. However, the substance must be used very carefully, since it has acidifying properties. Infertile soil requires additional use of humus, as excess sand will further deplete the substrate.

Expanded clay

Small expanded clay is recommended to be applied to the ground or used as a surface decor. The material helps to avoid erosion and overheating of the soil. In addition, its use slows down the evaporation of moisture. The substance is acceptable for use as a drain.

Peat

High peat has a red tint and an acidic reaction.It can only be used to increase the acidity of alkaline soil types. In addition, the material has a very poor composition. Grassroots peat has a dark color and contains many valuable components. This component is often present in ready-made substrates.

Helium balloons

This type of baking powder has excellent decorative properties. It is presented in the form of beautiful balls of different colors. In fact, this substance does not help loosen the soil. At the same time, it improves the characteristics of the substrate and makes the roots of plants he althier.

The material has hygroscopic properties. During watering, it swells, and then gradually gives off moisture and decreases. This helps to move the soil particles, which is where the loosening properties appear.

Christmas needles

This material is recommended to be applied only in autumn when digging up the soil. It is also used at the stage of preparing the substrate for flowers. It is important to consider that Christmas tree needles are acidic. Therefore, they are able to greatly increase the parameters of soil acidity.

The substance can only be used for certain crops - conifers or blueberries. The combination of spruce needles with nitrogen supplements and dolomite flour helps to loosen even slightly acidic soil.

Pine bark

This tool can be bought ready-made or carefully removed from the trunks. It is recommended to make pine bark in autumn. It functions as a ballast baking powder.

Styrofoam

The main advantages of this material are affordable price and lightness. The substance can hardly be called natural. It decomposes in the soil for a long time and cannot retain moisture. Since the foam is low density, it quickly comes to the surface of the ground, and therefore loses its function.

Hydrogel

This polymer is made in the form of granules or powder.In crushed form, it is used for germination of seed material. The hydrogel also helps to maintain the loose structure and moisture of the soil. The substance is characterized by a jelly-like structure. Thanks to this, the roots easily get into the granules and absorb water and nutrients from them.

The use of hydrogel helps to significantly reduce the number of waterings. At the same time, dry granules in water can increase by 15 times. When watered, they heat up moisture and gradually release it to plants.

Keeping the soil loose

The systematic application of fertilizers helps to maintain the desired soil structure. To do this, it is recommended to regularly use wood ash. Dolomite flour is also suitable for this purpose. In addition, it is useful to use substances containing chalk or slaked lime. They saturate the soil with oxygen and favorably affect its structure.

Today, many soil baking powders are known, which differ in composition and properties. This helps every gardener choose the best material for their needs.

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