A. Home Garden Helps for Friendly Soil

Part 1 of this document given earlier provides much needed information including explanation of what PAM is and how it improves soil.

"MP" (Micronized PAM) has provided a large number of benefits for field agriculture and it can do even more for home gardens where plantings are intensively cultivated.

"MP" (Micronized PAM) is environmentally safe. That being used to improve soil is food grade and is also used in food processing and also in water purification. When it breaks down biologically, it becomes the natural products, water, carbon dioxide and ammonia, all of which are involved in plant processes and all are ubiquitously present and useful in the environment.

"MP" (Micronized PAM) protects soil against the destructive forces of rain and irrigation water. PAM-protected soil when properly prepared does not erode, does not easily compact or crust, allows for good aeration and plants grow better as a result.

"MP" (Micronized PAM) overcomes adverse effects of insufficient soil organic matter. It even enhances the effects of any added organics. PAM, organic matter that is biologically active and gypsum (or lime if needed) are winning combinations of amendments.

B. More Values of Water-Soluble "MP" (Micronized PAM) Conditioners in the Garden.

• Cost savings with extremely effective soil preparation can be achieved with "MP" (Micronized PAM) soil conditioners.

• Soil-aggregate stability can be achieved for several years without simultaneous addition of extremely large quantities of organic amendments. modest quantities of organic amendments will do just as well or even better than large quantities because there are synergistic effects when PAM soil conditioners are applied with some gypsum and organic amendments.

• Use of "MP" (Micronized PAM) soil conditioners can help overcome most of the problems related to loss of topsoil. Water penetration can be made to be satisfactory. Soil erosion can be minimized and even completely avoided. Soil becomes well aerated, and plants do better due to improved root growth.

• Soils that drain very poorly due to such conditions as high clay contents or sodicity can be made to drain better.

• Plants that are susceptible to lime-induced chlorosis (iron deficiency), especially when soils are too wet, are much easier to manage when soil has been prepared with "MP" (Micronized PAM) soil conditioners and gypsum.

• Polymers like "MP" (Micronized PAM) that are available for soil conditioning are much better than those in use 45 years ago. Excellent soil preparation can be achieved with as little as 2% of the rates of the polymers in use then. Results are now better, and the economics is very favorable.

• PAM soil conditioners will improve any soil that contains some clay. The soil may be acid, neutral, or basic.

• Soil tests are available that can predict need for and response to the PAM soil conditioners. Soils laboratories in the past have tested soils primarily for their nutrient needs, but they also can be tested for possible improvement of physical properties of soils.

C. Some Products for use in the Garden:

1. "Soil Prep "MP" (Micronized PAM)

For soil preparation for turf, plantings, and gardens where soil conditioning effects are expected to last for several years. For turf they can be for the life of the turf. Product is 20% PAM in 80% fine-sized gypsum. Bag sizes are 5 pounds, 10 pounds, and 20 pounds. Use rates will vary for sandy loams, loams, and clay. Also useful for hydroseeding or adding with mycorrhizae. Follow use directions on container or as given in Part 3 for landscaping. Product does not have a permanent shelf life - only up to 2 years.

D. Hints on Transplanting with "MP" (Micronized PAM).

Frequently when potted plants are transplanted from containers using synthetic soil and the new soil in which they are transplanted is regular soil, an interface problem usually arises. Water may fail to move from the regular soil into the peat-pot ball or other synthetic soil or water and/or roots may not move from the new soil into the original soil and the new plant may dry and die.

This problem can be circumvented if the container plants are grown in regular soil that has been made into potting soil with "MP" (Micronized PAM) and some gypsum. Some incorporation of small amounts of products like zeolite, pozzolan, vermiculite, perlite, compost, or even peat with "MP" (Micronized PAM) will make a better soil that will still avoid the interface problem.

E. Make Potting Soil From Regular Soil

Commercial growers often find that regular soil makes the best potting soil. Various soil types have different advantages and disadvantages. Synthetic soils have good water drainage but require frequent fertilizer applications. Regular soil can grow lush green plants with less fertilizer addition, but regular soil often has poor drainage. Such soil can be better than synthetic soil for all characteristics and have good drainage.. The amended soil has greatly improved water penetration and soil aeration. This gives higher plant yields and growth rates.

"MP" (Micronized PAM) helps container-grown plants to remain healthy after they are transplanted. One of the major problems in transplanting is the interface problem between native soil and the potting soil which prevents water movement into the root ball. PAM-treated soil allows for water movement from native soil into the transplant soil,

Potting mixes of the so called soil-less type actually become far better media if some regular soil (like 5 per cent) is added to the mix. The soil should be sterilized. Aggregating with "MP" (Micronized PAM) before mixing with the media should stabilize it. In this way, there would be no drainage problems and the regular soil will not wash out or prevent drainage. Zeolites and pozzolan can substitute for regular soil if regular soil cannot be used.

Of course, very good potting soil may be made from regular soil and "MP" (Micronized PAM).

Making planter-box soil is much like making potting soil. The usual procedure, however, is to use a sandy or sandy loam soil at least in part then cover it with bark chips or similar material. The soil used, even if sandy loam, is best treated with "MP" (Micronized PAM) with a usual wetting and drying cycle. It will then drain easily and be a better medium for growth of the plant roots. This procedure will make it far less important to choose superb topsoil that may not be available—such can be made with "MP" (Micronized PAM) instead.

For large amounts of soil, mix 3 to 5 pounds 20% PAM 80% gypsum for loam soil or 6 to 10 pounds for clay soil with 2 or 3 cubic feet of good compost for each cubic yard of soil. Moisten, dry and till to give desired aggregate size.

F. Improved Infiltration and Drainage

Whenever PAM has been worked into the soil and the soil subjected to wetting, cultivation and drying, there will be vastly improved soil drainage.

G. Preparing Seedbeds For Turf Lawns and Gardens

Many operators would love to put PAM onto existing turf with the hope that troublesome water penetration problems could be solved. When applied with gypsum in solution there is some improvement even on existing turf. To get maximum benefits from PAM, however, it must be applied at the seedbed preparation time. Lawns can be prepared that will drain water and can be irrigated with better water penetration even on a slope. On some turf areas, drainage is a problem for critical use areas such as for athletic fields. Soil Prep "MP" (Micronized PAM) can be mixed as deeply as desired even if 2 feet deep followed by wetting and partial drying.

"MP" (Micronized PAM) is extremely useful for garden areas if there are soil problems such as crusting, poor drainage, high-clay stickiness. There are less restrictions than with turf and the "MP" (Micronized PAM) can be applied at any time even in perennial flower gardens if followed by some tillage or after cultivation.

Application rates for soil preparation are from 4 to 40 pounds or more of 20% PAM 80% gypsum per 1000 square feet and depending upon soil type. Soils very high in clay require the high rate. The Soil Prep "MP" is best applied with a drop spreader and tilled into the soil. The area is then irrigated and allowed to cure for a day or so. Retillage could be necessary. Planting can then be done.

H. Friendly Soil

A 1953 garden advertisement of a prior version of a polymer soil conditioner said "friendly soil resulted." The claims are still valid but with different materials and methodology that are now available:

"Some soils are just naturally "unfriendly". Because they are poorly structured, they pack, cake and crack. making it extremely difficult for seeds to germinate and emerge. Root formation is discouraged. water absorption is minimized. healthy growth is retarded. Other soils, once responsive, have become problem soils through abuse and neglect.

"In either case, these soils can be changed to "friendly" soils. by treating them with polymer soil conditioner. It makes the big difference in soil structure. maintains the soil in loose, porous, crumbly, easy-to-work particles. Water and air are readily absorbed. germination, root formation and emergence are greatly encouraged. Healthier plants come up in larger numbers.

"Soil scientists agree that good soil structure is the key to greater productivity. The reason is very simple. Because well structured soil remains loose, crumbly and porous, it is most favorable to seed germination, root formation and seedling emergence. It gives plants the right start early in life.

"In contrast to soil that is well structured, soil that is poorly structured will pack, cake and crack- it shrinks and tightens up under the impact of repeated sun and rain- often gets hard as a brick- acts to choke off germination, root formation and seedling emergence. Naturally, plants don't even come up. Soil like this responds to polymer (PAM).

"Don't put up any longer with problem soil that is naturally unfriendly, or has become so through abuse and neglect. Get "MP" (Micronized PAM) and change to friendly soil."

Adapted from a Monsanto Company advertisement in Better Homes and Gardens March, 1953.