By purchasing a new area or engaging in planning the location of seedlings and flower beds, initially worth determine the quality of the soil, the presence of nutrients, humus content, water capacity and, of course, the acid-base balance. You can explore the soil samples in the laboratory. But it is not always convenient or financially available.
If you know the characteristics of the individual weeds, then they will help determine the characteristics of the soil on the site. This is necessary not only to correctly calculate application rates of certain fertilizers, but also for the planning of agricultural activities for improving the site. The fact that different plants prefer "their" useful it is for them, the soils.
In areas with a high content of nitrogen compounds can be found nettle, Goutweed, pill or chickweed, chicory and motherwort.
About the lack of nitrogen plant tell us Plantain lanceolate, Viola tricolor and Heather.
Phosphorus and potassium - are urgently needed for the growth and development of plant organisms macronutrients, their disadvantage reduced frost plants. On a sufficient amount of these elements suggest growing meadow bluegrass and white clover. About shortage can be judged by which grow thin and bent Deschampsia cespitosa.
On high calcium concentrations in soil readily judged by growing weeds: knautia arvensis, thistle drooping, Lucerne yellow-rhoeas Poppy, Mustard, Adonis vernalesu. On the contrary, the shortage of the mineral can be identified by Shchavlev, bloodroot, cornflower blue, chamomile, violet tricolor.
Of great importance for the growth and development of plant organisms is soil pH. The bulk of vegetable crops prefer a neutral, weakly acidic or weakly alkaline reaction of the soil solution.
On soils with a pH of less than 7.0, the acid, there are all sorts of sorrel, horsetails, blueberries and cranberries. Alkaline soils prefer nettle, white and pink, Thlaspi arvense, nettle and stinging, St. John's wort.
Heavy and light soils are defined by their member of clay and sand. Lighter, loose soils contain a lot of sand, heavy, on the contrary, more clay, they are less breathable and more capacity.
On clay soils can be found wild mustard, Atriplex patula. Loose, light sandy soils favorable for Viola tricolor, hollyhocks, chrysanthemums, or zawadzkii, geranium.
The most favorable for the majority of vegetable crops soils with high humus content and humus. About their presence can be seen in the growing Maianthemum bifolium and Galium odoratum.
Look carefully at the weeds growing in your yard, and next to it, and they will tell you about what is lacking substances, and any excess. This can help in the selection of agricultural practices and the calculation rules for application of mineral and organic fertilizers.