Teaching Organic Farming and Gardening

Soil Tests and Amendments

Unit 1.11 | 17
Instructor’s Lecture 3 Outline

Lecture 3 Outline: Applying Soil Amendments

and Fertilizers

for the instructor

A. Applying Soil Amendments and Fertilizers
(see http://www.groworganic.com for more information on materials, and equipment for amending
and fertilizing)

1. Soil amendments

a) Timing of amending

b) Quantities to apply in a given year

i. Example: Agricultural lime and micronutrients

c) Depth of incorporation of soil amendments

d) Tools and techniques used for incorporating soil amendments

B. Supplemental Fertilizing

a) Timing of fertilizing

b) Quantities to apply in a given year

c) Application of supplemental fertilizers

i. Foliar application

ii. Soil-based application

d) Tools used for incorporating fertilizers

i. Spray rigs or backpack sprayers

ii. Fertigation

iii. Others

C. Hands-On Exercise: Reading and Interpreting Soil Analysis Reports, Nutrient
Budgeting, and Selecting Mineral and Organic Matter
Demonstration 4: Field Observations

Following Lecture 3, students should practice reading and interpreting soil analysis
reports, nutrient budgeting, and selecting soil amendments (refer to the Hands-On

Exercise). Students should also visit a working farm or garden operation for which a
soil test has been done (refer to Demonstration 4, Field Observations for a discussion
of soil fertility and nutrient management practices on a working farm).