Some experts, who know the properties of plants well, can at a glance determine what substances are rich in soil, how much moisture and light get certain areas, is it safe to grow fruits, vegetables and berries on this earth. And all this - without any analysis. It would seem just mysticism! However, in fact, he is simply well versed in the properties of soil indicator plants. A very useful skill that allows you to get a rich harvest and with a minimum of effort to keep the site in perfect condition. Therefore, to talk about some of these plants will be very useful.
What are indicator plants?
Some plants grow best on soil whose composition is balanced; the amount of light and moisture is average. However, others for successful growth need precisely the areas with broken characteristics. For example, an excess or vice versa a lack of certain trace elements, a large or small amount of water and sunlight. They became such thanks to millions of years of evolution - they grew in certain areas, adapted to suddenly changing conditions.
It is these plants that are commonly called indicators. There are plants-indicators of air, certain trace elements and conditions in this area. In some cases, completely different indicators can grow nearby. For example, under the area shaded by the lush crown of spruce, some herbs grow, and a couple of meters from them - completely different herbs, which for successful development it is very important to have a large amount of sunlight and heat. Of course, it is very useful to know about such features - in a completely unfamiliar area you can decide where and which plants will grow and bear fruit best, and where it is better not to plant anything at all in order to avoid serious danger. We give examples of indicator plants characteristic of different conditions and types of soils.
About nitrogen
Nitrogen is one of the most important trace elements without which most plants cannot grow at all. It is used to build leaves and stems, build up green mass. Its deficiency leads to the fact that many plants hardly develop. Therefore, to know, at least approximately, how much nitrogen is contained in the soil in a certain area (more or less than the norm) will be useful to any summer resident and gardener.
What soil indicator plants should I look for?
If a caustic buttercup, dioecious nettle, bump, cross-hair, quinoa or bedstalk grows in a certain area, this can be called a good sign - it means that the nitrogen content in the soil significantly exceeds the norm. This is a serious plus if you intend to grow crops such as pumpkin, cabbage, rhubarb, zucchini, eggplant, peppers and potatoes. These plants are the main "sinks" of nitrogen from the soil.
But if the soil is very poor in nitrogen, then on it you can probably see an umbilicus, wild carrots and stonecrop. These plants are one of the few wild that almost do not need this important element. If you plan to grow any crops on such a site, then it should first be enriched with nitrogen. You can do this in many ways. If you are in a hurry, it is best to fertilize the soil. If you have a lot of time, then plant more legumes here - beans, beans, peas. On the one hand - get rich peas by autumn (legumes have an amazing ability to consume nitrogen from the atmosphere). On the other hand, enrich the soil with nitrogen (the symbiosis of leguminous plants with microorganisms allows them to transfer part of the bound nitrogen from the atmosphere to the ground). Thus, the next year you get a plot where you can grow almost any crop - the problem of nitrogen deficiency is solved.
Acidity
Another important indicator on which the crop depends is the acidity of the soil. At pH 7, the soil is considered neutral. If the indicator is lower, then it is acidic, and if higher, then alkaline. There are certain indicator plants of soil acidity, which a summer resident should be aware of.
A sure sign that the soil in the area is acidic can be blueberries, sour sorrel, bukharnik, Erica, mint and field umbilicus.
The choice of crops that will grow well on such a site is quite extensive. First of all, it is blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, hazel. You can also harvest a rich crop if you plant here carrots, corn, radishes, potatoes, cucumbers and any kind of cabbage - white, cauliflower and kohlrabi. Yes, most cultivated plants prefer acidic soil. True, for some, the best indicator is a pH in the region of 4-5, and for others, 5.5-6 is considered desirable.
But most cultivated plants do not like alkaline soil. It is quite easy to identify it by the abundance of field violets, flax and sowing alfalfa. Relatively few cultures can be grown here. First of all, mountain ash, viburnum, some varieties of pears. The easiest, fastest and safest way to increase the acidity in the area is to apply gypsum to the soil. Its amount depends on the level of alkalinity. Having scattered plaster and having dug up the earth, it is desirable to leave it alone for one season. In the spring it will be possible to begin work - for sure it will be possible to get a rich harvest. As you can see, acid indicator plants can do a very good job!
High salinity
The high salt content in the soil is a real disaster for summer residents in some regions of our country. The fact is that there are generally very few plants that can grow on such land. Soleros (hence such a plant), as well as very unpretentious quinoa, growing almost everywhere, can become true indicators of a high salt content.
Fortunately, some cultivated plants can be grown on such land. The list is small, but still ...
In this area, sucker, Tatar honeysuckle, and golden currant will grow well. In some cases, you can even grow pomegranate, quince, grapes, apricot, cherry plum and mulberry. Quite a good crop is brought by sugar beets and melons - melons, watermelons.
It is generally very difficult to reduce the salinity of the soil - usually the excess of salts gets along with the land used for irrigation. Therefore, it is worth abandoning such practice. Try to use only rainwater - collect it in large tanks and water the beds and plants with it only. Gradually, completely fresh water will be able to wash the excess salt from the soil, and it will be possible to grow other cultivated plants on the site, in addition to those listed above.
Sand content
But the soil with a high sand content is a real dream for many summer residents. It is quite easy to identify it - on it, in addition to many other herbs, a mullein, as well as an average stellate, grows in abundance. These plants prefer light soil, and sand provides them with everything you need.
It is possible to grow any kind of crop on such soil. True, you need to make sure that the balance of useful trace elements is not upset - potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus are in sufficient quantities. It will also be useful to analyze the acidity - or to monitor whether any indicator plants from the above listed are growing on the site.
Any flowers, annual plants, bushes and trees will take root perfectly here. Light soil contributes to the rapid development of the root system, which is the key to a rich harvest. No measures are required to reduce the sand content. The only thing you have to carefully monitor is a sufficient amount of water. The fact is that water easily passes through soil saturated with sand, in contrast to the earth, which contains clay. Therefore, watering should be regular, if only heavy rains do not pass at least two to three times a week.
Moisture
It's no secret that water is the foundation of all life on Earth. The amount of moisture in the soil also determines which crops can be grown on them. It turns out that excess water is even more dangerous than a lack. But let's talk about everything in order.
On dry soils, wormwood and ordinary chamomile are most often found. They have a fairly powerful root system and at the same time tiny leaves, which can reduce moisture loss. Very few crops can grow on dry soil. These are mainly trees and shrubs: currants, sea buckthorn, raspberries, gooseberries, felt cherries and cherry plums. They all have long roots, allowing you to extract moisture from the ground. But special problems usually do not arise here - if watering is established, then any other crops can be grown.
It is much worse if there are such soil moisture indicator plants as mint, horsetail, coltsfoot, meadowsweet on the site. This means that the earth is too wet - many cultures simply will not be able to grow here, since their root system will rot.
It is best to choose bushes and fruit trees for the plot. For example, apple trees, pears, plums, cherries and cherries. True, it is worth planting not in the hollows, but rather, pouring at least not too high - about 30-50 centimeters - hills. Moisture will leave from here faster. Harvest in such cases usually ripens later than everywhere, but it is more plentiful, and the fruits are striking in size.
Excess clay
Clay soils often cause a lot of problems for summer residents. Identifying them is quite easy - here dandelion and creeping buttercup grow in abundance. In the most advanced cases, they generally displace other plants.
Clay soil has several drawbacks. Firstly, it is very heavy - the root system is hard to develop. And the earth is poorly saturated with oxygen - you have to loosen it manually. Secondly, water leaves very poorly and slowly, which can lead to rotting of the roots. True, in an arid climate, this is rather a plus - the water stands for a long time and water the plants, instead of quickly going into the depths.
On this soil, it is best to grow shrubs and trees. Currants, raspberries, blackberries, pears, plums, figs, cherries, and apple trees can become a good choice. True, you should first dig holes, pour drainage to the bottom, then put a layer of compost or peat, top it with black soil and only after that plant the plants. Thanks to this, young seedlings will be able to quickly develop, and a strong, healthy tree can break through a layer of clay.
Alas, any attempts to improve clay soil are generally useless - unless you take it away and replace it with lighter.
Heavy metals
There are also indicator plants of soil pollution. First of all, it is lead. Moreover, having seen various plants-indicators of minerals, one should not rejoice. After all, this is a very alarming signal, indicating a serious infection of the soil. There may have been a hazardous waste dump or something similar.
Soil grass, pansies are considered indicator plants of soil pollution. If these plants are actively growing on the site, then it makes sense to check the composition of the soil in a special laboratory. Unfortunately, there is no way to clean the land - you will have to change it, and dig it to a greater depth and import fresh. It is not worth it to grow vegetables and fruits - there is a high probability of getting serious poisoning and inflicting terrible damage to health. So it’s better to plant the plot with flowers or just plant it with grass.
Illumination
Sunlight is very important for any plants. After all, it launches and supports photosynthesis, due to which leaves and fruits appear and grow.
An excess of lighting can be judged by such an indicator as the Canadian goldenrod. However, too much light is rare - the more it is, the better. The main thing is to water abundantly so that the plants do not dry out. On this site, you can grow absolutely any crop. True, young seedlings should be shaded, but at the same time they are protected from heat, and not from light.
But the lack of lighting is a much more alarming sign. Some cultures simply will not be able to grow and successfully develop in the shade, they often get sick and do not bear fruit well. It is easiest to identify such areas by the presence of a dream and acidity - these plants prefer to grow in the shade, because they do not like light too much. Fortunately, you can grow certain crops in such places. For example, tomatoes grow well in the shade. Yes, and rhubarb produces good fruit in areas where the sun rarely looks. Finally, almost all types of salads grow beautifully on shaded ground. Although you should not think that they do not need heat and lighting at all. If it is possible to grow them in a sunny area, then it is better to do this. But if a large piece of land, for example, behind the house, is empty, and other cultures are dying here, then it is worth experimenting with tomatoes and rhubarb - the result will surely pleasantly surprise you.
Conclusion
On this our article comes to an end. Now you know exactly what the appearance of certain plants on the site means. And you can use each square meter as efficiently as possible to get a rich harvest. And if necessary, without much difficulty, eliminate the negative features of the soil.