Soil pH

Soil pH

pH, pH scale, its interpretation & explanation in layman terms

pH defines how acidic or basic (alkaline) a soil is.

The pH SCALE

i.            Ranges from 1 to 14.  

ii.            7 is neutral (this means it is neither acidic nor alkaline)

iii.            Less than 7 is acidic. The lower the number the higher the acidity.

iv.            More than 7 is alkaline. The higher the number the greater the alkalinity.

       Most common garden plants do well in slightly acidic (little less than 7) or slightly alkaline soils (little higher than 7).

*With this understanding, you should be able to amend your soil to suit the conditions your plants (crops) will grow best in.

See examples of common materials below and their positions on the pH scale.

It would be great to learn the pH of your common household materials. This helps with creativity in gardening and can limit unnecessary expense.

Tools you can use if you want to be a bit more accurate include:

          

 Soil test kit (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium: N-P-K and pH)  

                                                                                                                      Test meter (moisture, light, pH)

                 

It is easier to increase soil pH when it is found to be too acidic. One of the best additives is limestone (white lime, lime). Dolomite is another option.

• -          White lime is sold at Tzul Tortilla factory
• -          It can also be bought in St. Margaret on the Hummingbird Highway.
• -          Dolomite is sold at Belize Minerals near Forest Home in Toledo.
• -          Wood ash works well too (it is a source of potassium). Not the same as potash.

It is more challenging, and sometimes even more expensive, to lower pH when soil is alkaline. The easy and organic ways include addition of peat moss, composted (or treated) animal manure, organic mulch, fallen leaves and kitchen waste.


*Vermicompost can be used. But I will depend on you guys to tell me how this one works. 😀


Other options include pine needles (if you have access to conifers) and coffee grounds (if you love the coffee rush).  

This list came with my soil testing kit

Additional information

If your soil is not appropriate for your choice of plant/crops, you can improvise - concentrate the nutrients (prepare your soil with the materials you have - see previous blog on soil preparation) and plant in containers (check YouTube for ideas). 

*this will require that you give more attention to the amount of water you use for watering.  You will need more. You can create your own dripping system using used soda or water bottles (check YouTube for ideas).

In these uncertain times, we need to invest our time in planting crops that will provide enough calories (that is, calorically dense crops). 

These include potatoes, squash, lentils, sweet potatoes, and corn. These do not require a lot of care.

• -         Potatoes and sweet potatoes can be planting in used tires or sacks. Simply control the running of the vine by pruning regularly.

• -          Corn, beans and squash can be grown in the same space. Plant corn before beans. Beans can run on corn for support. The squash will help to limit the growing of weeds.

Reminder on tools needed to maintain a productive garden

Rake

Shovel

Hoe

Fork

Trowel and hand fork

Watering can

Pipe hose

Strings

Scale

Spray pump

Machete

Feel free to provide comments, add pictures or share your experience. 

Write to dufsept2014@gmail.com.

DUF home visit

DUF home visit artefacts 

March 25, 2020

Sedella's roof top

         

Wayne's backyard

Karen's agro-processing kitchen

(Making Cassava Farine at home)

Exact same processes are applied as in making of ereba (cassava bread) except for the last stage. 

See below.

   

 

 Instead of baking and pressing to form the ereba, the sieved and dried grated cassava is roasted or patched in a wok at low heat and constantly stirred.

Cassava farine can be used like corn meal. 

It can be made into a tasty porridge, into muffins, or used to coat meat or seafood before frying or baking.

 Encouraging all members to plant things to eat in their yards. 

Easily available are:
Sweet potato cuttings - Wayne
Corn seeds - Reimer's Feed Mill
Okra seeds - Ellis
String bean seeds - Jones
Spinach cuttings - Wayne, Jones
Sesame seeds - Karen
watermelon - market
Cucumber seeds - Karen
Sweet Pepper seeds - Karen
Jalapeno seeds - Karen
*Chayote (chocho) - market
Cantaloupe - market
Cassava sticks - Sedella, Wayne, Ellis
Aloe vera - Sedella, Karen
Culantro - Sedella
Cilantro seeds - Reime'rs Feed Mill
Strawberry - Sedella
Cherry tomato seedlings - Karen
Pitaya - Tasher
Papaya
Plantain
Cane
Squash
Pumpkin



We can get black soil from Silk Grass
We can get used tires from Belize Tire Depot or from local mechanic shops

Prosser has an outlet in Hope Creek.

Companion planting

-      Corn, squash, pole beans (can also add peanuts). Plant corn first.

-          Chives and tomato

-          Cucumber, pole beans, radish

-          Radish and spinach

-          Lemon grass and eggplant

Stay connected. 

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DUF Challenge

DUF Challenge during this Stay home time

Production of EM, Bokashi and Liquid fertilizer

EFFECTIVE MICRO-ORGANISMS

Ingredients

¼ cup Raw rice

      1 cup Water (non-chlorinated)

80 oz whole cream milk

1 teaspoon Molasses

Materials
a bottle for mixing, fine mesh strainer, 1 qt mason/ball jar (4 cups), a one-gallon gar or bottle

Step one

Created by Kaydoc on March 27, 2020 at 10:00p.m.

*Take note - amount used is doubled

 

Stored in cool dark place until April 1 - 3, 2020

Instructions

1.         add rice to water in a bottle with cap.

a.      Shake vigorously. The water should turn cloudy white.

b.      Put strainer on top of the jar, strain off the rice (this is not the part to use).

c.       The liquid part is what is needed. Place the cap unto the jar loosely.

d.      Store in a cool dark place (or cabinet lockers) for 5 to 7 days

e.      After 5-7 days, sift off the top layer and strain the liquid again. This liquid is the fermented liquid.

Step two

After 5 to 7 days, gather the materials above.

                Liquid after 5 days (left)                            Strained liquid (right)                             

2.         Use one-part fermented liquid to 10-parts milk in a gallon jar or bottle (ratio of 1 to 10 of whatever unit of measurement you choose)

a.   Loosely put the cap/lid on

b.   Let this sit for another 5 to 7 days

c.    After 5-7 days, sift of the curd that will settle on top.

d.   The light-yellow liquid that remains will be the Unactivated serum.

The strained (fermented) liquid is added to whole milk in a ratio of 1 to 10)

The mixture (fermented liquid and milk) is covered loosely and stored for another 5-7 days
(made April 1, 2020)

Unactivated serum produced after 5-7 days.

3.         add 1 teaspoon of molasses to the serum. This will feed the organisms.

              a.   Refrigerate the serum. This is your EM (inoculum) and can last for at least one year.

Pale yellow liquid remaining after the curd is skimmed off.

Unactivated serum strained to remove residues of curd

Molasses added to feed the organisms and stored in the refrigerator (or a very cool place)

This is the finished product - homemade EM

Dosage

Add 1-part serum to 20-parts water (room temperature) to activate the serum

Feed the diluted serum (EM) to the soil directly or by foliar feeding (applying to leaves).

*Foliar feeding can be done once a week.

(Process completed by Kaydoc on April 7, 2020 at 8p.m.)

BOKASHI 

(an anaerobic fermentation composting method used to amend soil and improve its texture)

  

Ingredients

10 lbs. Rice bran or saw dust (ensure this is free of pine wood)

4 tablespoons EM

4 tablespoons Molasses10 cups water (non-chlorinated)

Materials
large garbage bags, large container for mixing

Instructions

1.   Add molasses to water and add the EM

2.   Pour mixture unto the rice bran and mix well.

3.   Keep checking the moisture content. It should not be too wet.

4.   To check for moisture, squeeze the bran to form a ball.

5.   Add more water if the ball could not hold together.

6.   Once satisfied with moisture content (30-40%), put into the large garbage bag. Tightly seal to prevent air from entering.

7.   Store in a shaded and warm area. Leave to ferment for a minimum of 14 days.

8.   The mixed bran (Bokashi) should have a sweet-sour smell after 14 days. This is ready for use (wet mix). Store in airtight container.

*Try as much as possible to prevent mould from forming. That is, by preventing air from coming in contact with it during the process.

*white mould is tolerable. Black or green mould means the product is not desired.

9.   If you prefer a dry mix, spread the bokashi in thin layers on a concrete surface after day 14. This (air drying) can be done for three consecutive days (sunny). This is done for longer storage.

10.  The dried bokashi should be stored in a sealed bag at room temperature for up to 12 months.

Use of bokashi

As organic fertilizer (compost tea)

Enhancing the decomposition of organic waste

Reconditions soil (soil conditioner) to increase nutrient level

Use as top dressing

Can be diluted to create foliage spray

LIQUID FERTILIZER (organic)

Ingredients

5 lbs rice bran (or saw dust)

2 ½ gallons non-chlorinated water (same as ½ bucket)

1 litre milk (full cream)

½ litre EM

1 litre molasses

4 eggs

Materials
1 five-gallons bucket, weighing scale for rice bran, 1 large spoon for stirring, a measuring cup.

Instruction:

1. Combine all ingredients

2. Stir every day for at least 15 minutes or more (or even twice a day)

3. Do this for three weeks

Dosage

Dilute 250ml of the liquid fertilizer in 5 gallons of water. Apply to plant drench.

*The organic fertilizer can last for 2 months if stirred every day.

Pesticide training

Pesticide training with Mr. Peter Shol

March 14, 2020

The objective of this is for us to learn enough about pest management in the country and also to be able to identify chemicals based on their functions (and toxicity levels). Mr. Shol is always very helpful. We are very grateful for his usual zeal to share his experience with us. Thanks Mr. Shol.

***

The group intends to produce crops with little or no use of inorganic chemicals. Part of our goal is to gain enough knowledge on farming practices to be able to make informed decisions and to share this with others who may have interest in producing their own organic food. 

 *** 

Identification of pesticides by color of labels

The color codes are used to allow persons who cannot read or who do not understand the commonly used languages on labels to know the toxicity levels of the pesticides they are using in order to take proper precautions. 

DUF field trip to Independence after pesticide training

A stop in Georgetown Village to visit a farm. 

Join us

write to dufsept2014@gmail.com