How to care for soil with Zemja's products?

The goal of Zemja's products is to cover the basic needs when practicing organic farming.

When we talk about organic farming, we mean farming that does not use chemical fertilizers and conventional plant protection products. In order to grow a healthy and abundant harvest, we must give plants all the necessary conditions for proper vegetation.
As we all know, in order to grow and bear fruit, plants need sun, water, air, heat and nutrients.

To ensure sufficient sun and heat in Bulgaria, we practice outdoor farming mainly from May to October. During this period, it is necessary to ensure constant and optimal irrigation for the crops, depending on the temperatures and precipitation of the environment. Here again, the condition of the soil and the method of growing the crops (with or without mulch) have a great influence.

The next important factor is nutrients. Most of them are absorbed by the soil, some trace elements are obtained from the air. Once we have all the necessary conditions, through the process of photosynthesis, the plant feeds, grows and bears fruit.
However, there are other factors in nature that can threaten cultivated plants and are often the reason for resorting to strong chemical preparations. These are insect pests, fungal and viral diseases, and weeding. In this article, we will give you our solution for sustainable organic farming.

Soil nutrition and care should begin at the end of the agricultural year. We recommend that Zemja Rock Dust be applied to the soil in the months of November-early December, and during this period it is good to apply 2/3 of the recommended annual rate (80-100 g/m²), which is equal to 60-70 g/m². The application is carried out directly on the soil that we have cultivated and plan to cultivate in the next agricultural year. After application, we water. If you have chosen to plow the land in the fall, then the application should be before that, so that it can then fall deeper into the soil. We do not practice deep plowing, we only cultivate the surface layer of the soil (5-10 cm) in order to preserve the life of the soil inhabitants (beneficial microorganisms and insects), which we consider to be our best helpers in agriculture. By applying Zemja Rock Dust, we add spent macro- and microelements to the soil, necessary for the health of both the soil and the plants. The soil structure improves, acidity decreases, the ability of the soil to retain water and gradually release it when needed is improved, preventing putrefactive processes. During the winter months, after snow and rainfall, the stone flour seeps into the upper layer of the soil and decomposition processes begin, so that by spring the land is enriched and ready for subsequent actions. With the onset of spring and an increase in temperatures and daylight hours, life in the soil begins to become more active. When the minimum temperatures are no longer negative and remain at an average of 8˚С (around mid-late March), we apply the remaining 1/3 of the recommended dose of Zemja Rock Dust, which is equal to 20-30 g/m². Immediately after this, to enhance the decomposition processes, we spray abundantly with Zemja Liquid (Working solution 1:100, at a dose of 2-3 l per 100 m²). Zemja Liquid contains beneficial enzymes and microorganisms that accelerate the decomposition of stone flours into nutrients that are digestible for plants. It also has a disinfecting effect, with a proven positive effect in the fight against nematodes.

The next important part before sowing is the addition of organic matter to the soil. The content of organic matter in the soil is of utmost importance for ensuring health and fertility in it. Beneficial insects and microorganisms that ensure the processing and leaching of nutrients from the soil to the plants feed only and exclusively on organic matter. Chemical fertilizers are not food for them, so when organic matter is not added to the soil, it loses its properties and the doses have to be increased every year, which in turn leads to salinization of the upper layer, erosion and drought.
Therefore, the next step in our schedule is the placement of Zemja Bokashi. We recommend that this happen in mid-April or 2-3 weeks before planting the crops. Zemja Bokashi is a living organic compost fertilizer, we have put everything necessary to form a healthy and fertile soil layer in it - it has plant and animal organic matter, in an environment of beneficial enzymes and microorganisms. Inside, the processes of converting organic matter into something digestible for plants have already begun. In this way, we save years of work on decomposition in a natural environment. The placement of Zemja Bokashi is carried out as part of the soil layer (5-10 cm) is removed, bokashi is placed and then covered with soil again. To work properly, Zemja Bokashi must be in an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment and have enough moisture. Therefore, abundant watering is necessary after placement and regularly during the next two weeks. The recommended dosage, in case you have done the previous steps with Zemja Rock Dust, is 2 kg/100 m². This is the last step in enriching the soil before planting.

This is followed by planting the different crops, depending on their type.

At the beginning of the growing season, the biggest problem is usually weeding. In this case, there are mainly two solutions. One is mechanical removal of weed plants, and we recommend that this be done only above the soil. It is not good to remove their roots, because around them there are already inhabited colonies of microorganisms that are beneficial for the cultivated plants and the soil. It is necessary to fight only above-ground, which is, however, laborious and quite exhausting in the first month, until the cultivated plant has developed enough leaves to prevent other plants from taking over its area.
Another way to fight weeds is by not allowing them to develop, due to lack of contact with the sun. In this option, we use mulch. The mulch can be made of straw, mowed grass, etc. Then we get more benefits - firstly, the ground does not remain bare, which is its natural state. Secondly, in the soil layer, in which the root system of the plants develops, temperature and humidity are maintained without sudden changes. Soil humidity is retained longer, because the water

After ensuring good soil health and moisture, we have prepared all the prerequisites for the growth and development of crops. However, other external factors may accumulate (acid rain, excessive moisture, drought, sudden changes in temperature, etc.), which may lead to the spread of harmful insects, fungal diseases or others. Timely diagnosis and response in such cases is important. If you notice the appearance of any pests on plants such as aphids, butterflies, caterpillars, snails, etc., we recommend timely treatment with Zemja Liquid. In case of an invasion, spraying of foliage and draining of the roots with a working solution of 1:100 is applied every 2-3 days. After 2-3 applications, the problem will be under control. If you decide to spray preventively, let it be every 7-10 days.
In case of the appearance of fungal diseases visible on the leaves or mites, we again apply spraying and draining every 2-3 days. Zemja Liquid stimulates the natural defenses of the plant, it begins to eat more, thickens its cell walls and begins to produce enzymes that neutralize pests that feed on it. It is harmless to the environment and other insects. Zemja Liquid contains small amounts of some of the main macro-elements N-P-K, which additionally nourishes the plants and the soil. It is important to prepare the working solution with dechlorinated water and spray it before sunrise or after sunset so that the sun's rays do not kill the beneficial microorganisms and enzymes in the solution.

We recommend applying at least 2-3 more times of fertilization with Zemja Bokashi during the growing season, and after sowing you can place it 15-20 cm from the stem of the plant in holes with a depth of 10 cm. To facilitate placement, you can use a Garden Awl or a Garden Bulb Planter.

We wish you success and a bountiful harvest!