SOIL DEPTH
FOR CROPS
SOIL DEPTH
DEPTH OF SOIL FOR
VEGETABLE GARDEN
SOIL DEPTH FOR CROPS LINKS
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 1
SOIL
DEPTH
The effective depth of a soil for plant growth is the vertical distance
into the soil from the surface to a layer that essentially stops the
downward growth of plant roots. The barrier layer may be rock, sand,
gravel, heavy clay, or a cemented layer (e.g. caliche). Terms that are
used to express effective depth of soil are:
Very Shallow
Surface is less than 10 inches from a layer that retards root development.
Shallow
Soil surface is 10 to 20 inches from a layer that retards root development.
Moderately deep
Soil surface is 20 to 36 inches from a layer that retards root development.
Deep
Soil surface is 36 to 60 inches from a layer that retards root development.
Very deep
Soil surface is 60 inches or more from a layer that retards root development.
Soils that are deep, well-drained, and have desirable texture and structure
are suitable for the production of most garden or landscape plants. Deep soils
can hold more plant nutrients and water than can shallow soils with similar
textures. Depth of soil and its capacity for nutrients and water frequently
determine the yield from a crop, particularly annual crops that are grown with
little or no irrigation. Plants growing on shallow soils also have less
mechanical support than those growing in deep soils. Trees growing in shallow
soils are more easily blown over by wind than are those growing in deep soils.
Soil depth
http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/soils/depth.html
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 2
DEPTH OF
SOIL FOR A
VEGETABLW GARDEN
Depth of Soil for a Vegetable Garden. Vegetable gardens come in
various forms. Plants may be grown in rows, following large-scale
farming methods, or planted in groups. Raised beds provide
gardeners with an opportunity to grow vegetables within a framed
bed filled with a soil blend mixed for optimum results. Vegetable
gardens may also consist of a series of containers, each filled
with potting mix. No matter the method, an essential element in
successful vegetable gardening is appropriate soil depth.
Defining Soil Depth
In broad terms, soil is defined as the layer of naturally forming
organic material on Earth's surface that supports plant life. Soil
depth is defined as the depth to bedrock, or layer of solid rock,
made solid by compaction. Soil depth around the world varies, just
as soil composition varies. In terms of gardening, soil depth is
the depth the roots reach downward within the soil until they
encounter a barrier, such as bedrock, gravel or the bottom of a
container.
Levels of Soil Depth
The Arizona Cooperative Extension categorizes garden soil depths as
follows: less than 10 inches deep is very shallow, from 10 to 20
inches is shallow, from 20 to 36 inches is moderately deep, from 36
to 60 inches is deep and 60 inches or more is very deep. So if a
gardener is able to dig down more than 60 inches before hitting
bedrock, the soil depth in the garden is considered very deep.
Soil Depth in Earth
The phrase, "deep, well-drained soil" is consistently used to describe
ideal soil conditions. The phrase, though seemingly ambiguous, is an
accurate description. If planting directly into the ground, the gardener
ideally wants a soil depth of 36 to 60 inches, otherwise described as
deep. The soil layer in the garden may meet the depth requirements, but
if the soil texture is too dense, the plants' roots may still be unable
to penetrate it. The gardener may either amend the soil, thereby adding
to the overall depth of workable soil, or use raised beds. The gardener
is able to fill a frame with rich, well-draining soil, thereby increasing
soil depth.
Soil Depth in Containers
If vegetables require deep soil conditions, it would appear contradictory
to raise them in containers unless the containers were at least 3 feet in
height. However, in-ground gardens or raised beds require a number of
plants to share the same soil, competing for moisture and nutrients. The
deep depth provides vertical space for roots to seek out food and water.
In container gardening, a 5-gallon pot that measures 18 inches in depth
may be categorized as shallow, but the plant has no competition. It can
develop a shallow root system, spreading wide rather than deep. What the
soil lacks in depth, the plant gains in its exclusive access to water and
to nutrients stored in the potting mix.
Depth of Soil for
a Vegetable Garden
http://www.gardenandflowers.com/info_8109429_depth-soil-vegetable-garden.html
BACK TO TOP
Do Your Vegetables
Have Enough Space
to Grow? Soil Depth
and Seed Spacing
https://www.motherearthliving.com/in-the-garden/grow-vegetables-soil-depth-and-seed-spacing-zb0z1802/
Crop
Rooting
Depth
http://ucmanagedrought.ucdavis.edu/Agriculture/Irrigation_Scheduling/Evapotranspiration_Scheduling_ET/Frequency_of_Irrigation/Crop_Rooting_Depth/
Raised Bed Soil Depth:
How Much Soil Goes
In A Raised Bed
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/raised-bed-soil-depth.htm
BACK TO TOP
SECTION 3
SOIL DEPTH
FOR CROPS
LINKS
The best height for
raised beds and planters
https://www.gardenbetty.com/how-deep-are-the-roots-of-garden-vegetables/
Gardener’s Guide
to Fruit and
Vegetable Root Depth
https://virily.com/home-gardening/gardeners-guide-to-fruit-and-vegetable-root-depth/
How to Find the
Root Depth of
Vegetables
[Printable Chart]
https://www.gardenbetty.com/how-deep-are-the-roots-of-garden-vegetables/
Interplanting Vegetables
Root Depth, Plant Height
https://harvesttotable.com/interplanting_vegetables_root/
Mature Root Depth of
Common Vegetables
& Reference Table
https://growitbuildit.com/mature-root-depth-of-common-vegetables/
Raised Beds
Soil Depth Requirements
https://learn.eartheasy.com/guides/raised-beds-soil-depth-requirements/
Raised Beds
Soil Depth Requirements
http://eartheasy.com/raised-beds-soil-depth-requirements.html
BACK TO TOP
Root Depth for
Vegetables
https://laidbackgardener.blog/2020/05/21/root-depth-for-vegetables/
Soil depth for
garden success
http://generoussavings.com/soil-depth-for-garden-success/
Soil Depth and
Plant Selection
https://theplantium.com/2017/09/28/soil-depth-and-plant-selection/
Soil Depth Requirements for
Common Garden Vegetables
https://learn.eartheasy.com/guides/raised-beds-soil-depth-requirements/
Urban Gardening with
Vegetables How to grow
edibles in pots and planters
https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/urban-gardening-with-vegetables/5491.html
Vegetable
Planting charthttps://secure.caes.uga.edu/extension/publications/files/html/C963/C963VegeChart.pdf
Vegetables
Planting chart
http://www.greeneducationfoundation.org/images/stories/GreenThumbChallenge/PDF/vegetableplanning.pdf
What Soil Depth for
Planting Vegetables
in a Raised Bed?
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/soil-depth-planting-vegetables-raised-bed-47491.html
BACK TO TOP
Soil
Science
Society of
America
https://www.soils.org/
Acreage Calculator
Find Acres Using
a Map or Land Dimensions
https://www.inchcalculator.com/acreage-calculator/
Horticulture and
Soil Science Wiki
http://horticultureandsoilscience.wikia.com/wiki/Horticulture_and_Soil_Science_Wiki
BACK TO TOP
SOIL INDEX
GARDEN INDEX
AGRICULTURE INDEX
CODEX
GREEN INDEX
GREEN SUB-INDEX
HOME
E-MAIL