Permaculture in New Zealand

Low tech assessment of your soil, by Aleena La'ulu

Low tech assessment of your soil, not sure where these came from sorry, this was information I received on my Organic’s course.

THE INDICATOR PLANTS
* Buttercups, Ranunculus aeris
Wet, cultivated/tilled, clay
* Wild carrot, Ducus carota
Uncultivated/neglected, alkaline, low fertility,
* Chickweed, stellaria media
cultivated/tilled, high fertility
* Clovers, trifolium sp.
Low nitrogen
* Dandelion, Taraxacum vulgare
cultivated/tilled, clay, acid
* Docks, Rumex sp.
Wet, Acid
* Dock, broad leafed, Rumex obtusifoias
wet, clay
* Fumitory, Fumaria officinalis
High potassium
* Groundsel, Sececio vulgaris
High fertility, cultivated/tilled
* Mosses, Bryophyta sp.
Wet
* Plantains, Plantago sp.
Wet, cultivated/tilled, clay, acid
* Yarrow, Achillea millefolium
Low potassium

THE RADISH AS AN INDICATOR PLANT
Nitrogen deficiency: Radish leaves turn pale green then yellow with red veins and midribs. Stunted growth, root does not swell. Treat with compost, alfalfa, clover, nettle tea, wood ash, grass clippings or animal manure.

Phosphorus deficiency: Stunted growth, insipid green leaves with purple tints. Old leaves scorch at the edges and wither early. Early bolting. Treat with rock phosphate, alfalfa, clover, chickweed, comfrey, dandelion, and stinging nettle.

Sulphur deficiency: Purpling of old leaves, which then shrivel. Young leaves small and yellow between veins. Early bolting, Root does not swell. Treat with broom, chamomile and yarrow.

Potassium deficiency: Small dark bluish-green glossy leaves, curving a little backwards. Old leaves with yellow patches scorches edges curled upwards. Small roots. Treat with ashes, kelp, comfrey, alfalfa, clover, borage, bracken, chamomile, comfrey, dandelion, fennel, inkweed and yarrow.

Calcium deficiency: Young leaves cupped backwards, with white spots around edges. These turn brown. Forward rolling of leaf margin. Normal root. Treat with crushed shell, lime, chamomile, comfrey, horsetail, willow (tea).

Magnesium deficiency: Leaves are bronzed and later get yellow patches between the veins. Treat with dolomite and broom

Manganese deficiency: Veins stand out clearly with yellow between. As plant ages, small dead spots and papery areas appear. Slow root growth. Treat with kelp meal

Boron deficiency: Split or thin misshapen roots. Roots with torn patchy surface and dull skin. Treat with kelp meal or a natural rock source. Also, bindweed (tea) and chickweed.

Iron deficiency: Very pale leaves, especially the youngest early in the season. Veins stay dark. Treat with seaweed, compost, rock dust, blackberry (tea), chickweed, comfrey and stinging nettle.

Entered by Aleena La'ulu