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What’s In the Soil, and Why It Matters

 Soil is truly the crucible of life. Without soil, humanity
would cease to exist on the Earth.

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Organic Matter Content

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Cation-Exchange Capacity (CEC)

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Soil PH

Why Soil Is More Complex Than It Looks

Soil science, also known as pedology, draws on many different fields, including

  • biology
  • geology
  • hydrology
  • agronomy
  • botany
  • chemistry

Because soil draws on so many different areas of science, it’s no surprise that beginner gardeners and florists often struggle to get a clear answer to a simple question:

“What’s the best soil for my lawn, trees, shrubs, flowers, or garden?”

The short answer: A prolific soil has

  • High organic matter content
  • High cation-exchange capacity (CEC)
  • A near-neutral acidity (pH)
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The Role of Organic Matter in Healthy Soil

Soils with more than 20% organic matter are more fertile, drought-resistant, less susceptible to erosion and soil compaction, and more disease-resistant.

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Soils have been slowly created over the ages as rock eroded into tiny pieces on the Earth’s surface and mixed with organic matter, inorganic minerals, water, and air.

The four main components of any soil are mineral matter, organic matter, air, and water.

Organic matter is the remnants of plants and animals in various stages of decomposition and a little goes a long way. Productive farmland in Iowa, some of the best in the country, typically has less than 12% organic matter in its soil. Organic matter levels are constantly changing, as microorganisms break it down over time. 

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Soils can be classified into three categories: clay, sand, and loam.

  • Loam soils have high organic matter content. One type of loam soil, histosol soil, is commonly referred to as peat. Histosol soils have decomposed plant and animal matter as their primary material and include sphagnum peat, hypnum peat, reed-sedge peat, and houghton-muck peat.
  • Peat soils are rich in carbon, lightweight, and have high degrees of water and nutrient retention capabilities.

The base soil used in all Talon Terra soil mixes are reed-sedge peat and houghton-muck peat.

"Essentially, all life depends upon the soil...There can be no life without soil and no soil without life, they have evolved together.”

- Charles E. Kellogg

Understanding Cation-exchange capacity: Your Soil’s Nutrient Storage System

The CEC measures how well soil stores and delivers the minerals plants need to thrive.

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The CEC percentage measures the degree to which a soil can naturally absorb and hold nutrients and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, oxygen, hydrogen, and sodium.

Generally, the higher the overall CEC percentage, the better the soil is for growth. However, the proportions (percent base saturations) of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium are critical for healthy plant growth.

Between 1920 and 1940, Dr. William Albrecht, a pioneer in pedology at the University of Missouri, studied how different ratios of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium affect plant growth. 

His studies concluded that the strongest, healthiest, and most nutritious plants were grown in soils with base saturations of 65% calcium, 15% magnesium, 4% potassium, and 1–2% sodium. 

The Right pH Can Make or Break Your Plants

Soil pH affects how well plants absorb nutrients, and different plants thrive at different levels.

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Soil pH measures how acidic or alkaline the soil is, based on the concentration of hydrogen ions. The more hydrogen ions present, the lower the pH.

The pH scale runs from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Soil can range from extremely acidic (below 4.5) to strongly alkaline (above 9.1).

Dr. Albrecht’s research found that the ideal soil pH is 6.4. In general, a pH between 6 and 7 is excellent for most grasses, trees, shrubs, and flowers.

However, it’s still important to check if the specific plant you’re growing has unique soil or pH requirements.

For example, ericaceous plants, a family of trees and shrubs with bell-shaped flowers (heather, rhododendron, azalea, and arbutus), require an acidic soil in which to thrive. Therefore, the pH of such soil should be less than 6. 

Retailers See 25% + Growth

Stores that carry Talon Terra soil typically see a 25–40% increase in same-store sales by their second year. That’s the power of soil that keeps customers coming back. 

Finally — A Soil Mix That Lists What’s Actually Inside

Talon Terra’s soil mixes are peat-based, meaning they have high organic matter content, high CECs, and neutral pHs. We share a complete listing of all the ingredients used in our soil mixes.

When customers try Talon Terra’s peat-based soil mixes, they come back for more, giving you a product that builds long-term loyalty and repeat business.

Most soil brands hide behind vague terms like “forest products” or “natural ingredients.” Talon Terra doesn’t. We list every ingredient we use, so you and your customers know exactly what’s in the bag.

Talon Terra’s Histosol Soil Ingredients

Talon Terra is located in LaPorte County, Indiana, near the headwaters of the Kankakee River Valley, a region formed by ancient glaciers. This area became one of the largest histosol (peat-based) wetlands in the United States. The rich organic matter from this land is the primary ingredient in all Talon Terra soil mixes. To ensure quality and consistency, every mix is tested by A&L Great Lakes Laboratories in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

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Group 18

VL = Very Low, L = Low, M = Medium, H = High, VH = Very High

Non-Soil Mix Components: Agriculture Perlite, Torpedo (Field) Sand, Mason Sand.

Know What You’re Growing In

You don’t have to settle for mystery mixes or vague claims. With Talon Terra,
you get soil, backed by lab results and formulated to perform.