Leaching

No, I’m not talking about Medieval medical practices!

​Leaching describes how water-soluble plant nutrients are washed away with rain and irrigation. ​​


While your plants certainly need water, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. As nutrients are washed down from the topsoil and into the groundwater, they can cause contamination and algae blooms.
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Medicinal leeches used in bloodletting (Bossche's 'Historia Medica') Public Domain

Clay soil holds far more water than sandy soils, but every soil has a holding capacity. Once that limit is reached, gravity will pull the water downward into underground waterways where it will ultimately flow to lakes and oceans. As it flows away, the water carries nitrogen, salts, fertilizer, pesticides, fungicides and whatever else was in your soil with it - leading to a potentially dangerous chemical soup that can wreak environmental havoc. Leaching also moves valuable nutrients out of reach from your plants roots.

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To avoid leaching, it is always a good idea to water only as much as is needed. You can see for yourself where your irrigation water is going simply by inserting a moisture meter next to the plants you intended to water (but not too close). Many people are surprised to discover that the water intended for their tomato plants actually went in another direction due to hardpan, sandy pockets, or poor soil structure. Improving soil structure with compost can improve drainage and help prevent leaching.