Understanding soil balance is the key to improve garden soil

The key is to recognize that there are three basic components in this system - Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The other important thing is that balance begins with soil physics. This aspect of soil balance involves things like soil structure, moisture retention and so on. These things define the condition of the physical environment upon which plant roots and all other soil organisms depend. No amount of fertilizer can make up for poor soil structure, so this aspect of the soil system must be addressed before anything else. Improving the physical environment of the soil requires getting the proportions of five key elements right - Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium and Hydrogen. However, people get confused because these elements are also plant nutrients.

The essential plant nutrients also have an ideal set of balance proportions (depending on the plants being grown), but this is different and separate from the soil physics balance. The fact that elements like Calcium and Potassium can have two distinct functions in the soil only emphasizes that the soil is a living system. However, one question that people often ask is whether organic fertilizer is really better than chemical fertilizer . The answer is that it all depends on the state of balance in the soil.

The last component is soil biology. The balance relationship here has only recent been worked out and the details are all on our soil biology page . However, the important thing to realize here is that biology is reliant upon both soil structure and available nutrients.

This illustrates the point that in addition to the soil balance relationships within each of these components, there is a balance that exists between the three components as well. So a well balanced soil is one that is well balanced in terms of physics, chemistry, biology and in balance between these three components as well. This integrated set of balance relationships is the basis for the Mikhail soil balance system.

Of course, soil is only one part of healthy organic gardening. To keep up with the whole subject, there are some useful links below, but you can also subscribe to our Free email newsletter - The Food Gardener.

Further reading:

The truth about the Calcium Magnesium ratio.
Much has been written about the Calcium Magnesium ration, but only in terms of plant nutrition. This is a pity, since it is mainly involved with soil physics.

The proper use of Lime, Dolomite and Gypsum for soil improvement.
Gypsum is not a 'clay-breaker' and Lime does more than change the soil pH. This page describes what research has shown really happens when these materials are applied to soil.

What is 'Healthy' soil.
Here is another way of looking at soil balance - by examining the parallels between soil health and human health.