There are various methods to keep a healthy topsoil in your garden, however, which way you choose will depend entirely on the quality of the topsoil in the first place.
Soil balance is a useful way for garden keepers to learn about the workings of their topsoil and therefore to be able to improve it. The chemistry and physics of topsoil can be learnt from topsoil balance. This also means that topsoil chemistry and physics as well as biology are learnt about further ensuring that nutrients and structure are perfectly balanced.
The Mikhail system is well-known for topsoil balance maintenance. Using this system of topsoil management gives the soil friability and helps living organisms and to survive giving better soil composition and structure. Topsoil is a little like the body of humans which needs a skeleton on which its other body components can be attached. Potassium, Hydrogen, Magnesium, Sodium and Calcium are all essential elements in good healthy Topsoil.
The Mikhail system then helps to ensure that the nutrients and biology of the topsoil is in order. These then also need to be in balance with the structure Essential elements for plant nutrition are Phosphorous, Potassium, Nitrogen and Sulphur. Once the topsoil’s structure has significantly improved and balance corrected, then fertiliser can be added to maintain the correct levels of these elements. Most general garden fertilisers are based on NPK, which provides these essential chemical elements. Topsoils also need to have the correct levels of trace elements.
One way to find out where topsoil is failing in terms of make-up is by testing it. This can be done using testing kits for soil, which will provide the necessary information for the gardener. The required fertiliser, lime and other soil improving material can then be obtained to ensure that the topsoil performs better.
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