A keyhole plot may be a compost plot from food scraps that many people know. But did you know that there is also a mound agriculture, another form of composting plots with vegetable plantings under the name Hugh Culture (Hugelkultur) that lasts for more than 10 years
Hughul culture or mound farming is a planting culture of Germany and Europe. It was caused by the observation that the area where the trees fell and the debris accumulated, retained moisture better and was more fertile than other areas. Therefore, large logs, branches, and decayed wood were piled up into a high hill with leaves, grass, manure and other organic waste. stacked into layers at the desired height Then cover with soil to make a plot for planting plants.
Hukul plots are popularly made in the forested area with large trees. and far from water sources which the Germans and Eastern Europeans have continued for hundreds of years How to do the Hughul transformation process? Can you do this in Thailand? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Let’s get to know each other at the same time.
The working principle of the Hughoul plot, etc.
Convert hugul, etc. to the use of logs, branches. Leaves and grass fragments piled up as a base to create a higher vegetable plot for use in planting vegetables. The material piled up in piles will cause the decomposition process for a long time. causing the release of nutrients slowly And it helps to store excess nutrients in the top soil instead of being leached into the bottom layer or groundwater, thus providing a source of nutrients for long-term plant stability.
Main benefits Of the Hukul plots, it is better to store water than planting on soil alone. Buried rotted wood acts like a sponge. Make water available for plant roots to absorb at all times. while other materials that decompose quickly will be placed on top As they begin to decompose, they become warmer and provide a habitat for good microorganisms to help decompose logs and other materials completely. Until causing humus, which is an organic substance caused by deposition and decomposition of plant residues. The decomposition process takes place very slowly over a long period of time, so there is almost no need for watering and fertilizing the Hukul plot.
Convert different types of Hugh Culture.
There are various methods of making a Hughul plot according to the soil conditions and growers’ needs as follows:
Method 1: Laying on the soil, suitable for shallow topsoil, difficult soil digging, easy to do by laying piles of wood and materials in order
Method 2, the underground burial method is to dig the soil to a depth of about 30-60 hours and then put the logs in the pile in the area where the soil is dug. Then sprinkle the dug soil over the wood pile again.
Method 3, buried underground and dig a trench. This method is similar to Method 2, but will dig a trench next to the pile. in order to store water therefore do not need to water often Because the logs inside the pile will act as a sponge to send water up to the top.
Hugh Culture Conversion Format
The shape of the Hughoul plot can be customized according to your requirements. by taking into account the context of the area And utilizing the Hughul plot is like building a closed tunnel. causing the internal moisture to evaporate up to the roots of the plant above and reflected back down again Hughul plots that are 1 to 1.5 meters tall can hold water for up to 3 weeks, the higher they are, the longer they can hold water.
In general, plots with a width of 1 – 1.5 meters are generally preferred. If the plot is too low, the effect of this technique will not be seen as it should be. because the amount of wood chips is not enough Making plots with suitable height and width This will increase the area for planting more crops than plots that are too wide or too short.
The shape of the Hughul plot is therefore related in both width and height. There are mainly 6 types, namely, normal, tall, triangular, edged with large stones, and edged with logs.
making process
materials and equipment
1. logs, branches, leaves
2 Manure, chicken manure, cow
3 food scraps
4 soil
5 straws
6 microorganisms
Equipment such as hoes, watering cans
Hughul transformation process
1. Determine the plot area, width 1-1.5 meters, length can be determined as required. by adjusting the size to suit the available space If the plot is buried underground To dig the soil into a hole for about 30-60 hours so that the logs can be placed. This saves the use of top cover soil. And it also helps to make the process of degradation easier.
2. Place the largest log on the first floor. Then place small branches on top in layers. as high as you want Then bring water mixed with photosynthetic microorganisms, or PSB, to moisten the logs and branches.
3. After that, the leaves, food scraps and animal droppings are put into the gaps of the branches to add elements.
Inside the pile, large, slow-degrading materials are arranged below. and gradually grading into smaller materials that decompose faster. in order to cause the decomposition process to continue The plant receives nutrients continuously.
4. Cover the top layer with soil. Let it be about 2 inches thick and cover with straw or hay. Water that is mixed with photosynthetic microorganisms or PSB. Water the whole plot.
After completing the conversion It should be left for 1-2 weeks before planting. to achieve complete degradation of organic matter and to be able to adjust the collapse area to be equal However, there is no need to worry about the heat from decomposition. because when large logs are used and not swarming into confined spaces like composting that must be piled up tightly The heat from the Hughoul plot is therefore very small. including how to let it decompose first This ensures that the post-planting decomposition system will not affect the roots of the plant.
Advantages Disadvantages
In addition to eliminating food waste, leaf scraps, logs, and Hukul plots, etc. also beneficial to plants can grow well Roots can expand quickly. Without adding any fertilizer, the most important thing is to reduce the use of water in caring for plants. It can be used for up to 10 years, but the Hukul plot may become a habitat for termites. Therefore, it should be kept away from the house enough. And must maintain enough humidity to prevent termites from nesting in another way. And the ideal area should not be placed in the way of water that may be blown away by the water.
About JOMM YB
Illustration of Montira Monklang
