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Nitrogen fixation

Traditional farming relies on various fertilizers, ranging from industrially produced chemical fertilizers to homemade compost and the addition of animal manure to create annual vegetables and other plants. This is also possible in a forest garden, but it is very laborious.


Alternatively, you can make use of a process that is naturally present in the forest cycle. A number of plants - mainly from the pea flower family (clover, beans, pea flowers etc.), but also plants from 8 other families - live in symbiosis with a bacterium that lives in their root system. The bacteria convert nitrogen gas (N2) from the air into ammonia (NH3). The nitrogen-fixing bacteria then live in symbiosis with the plant roots, supplying themselves and the plants with available nitrogen compounds and receiving energy-rich organic compounds from the plant in return. When the plant sheds its leaves or dies, the fixed nitrogen is released and made available to surrounding plants - they make the soil fertile.


In a forest garden, it makes the most sense to use nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs, as many perennial nitrogen-fixing plants require a relatively large amount of sun. The downside may be that nitrogen fixers require quite a lot of space to thrive, but on the other hand, there are many nitrogen fixing shrubs and trees that have other benefits such as bearing edible crops and attracting bees. Trees and shrubs fix and distribute just as much in a given area as, for example, clover.

Plants

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Potassium

Potassium is more difficult to supply on-site than nitrogen. Potassium is especially important for making cell walls thick, which in turn is important for becoming resistant to diseases, damaging insects, and animals. Almost all soil contains a lot of potassium, but most of it is unavailable and is made accessible by weathering. Comfrey and certain ferns have a high content that they release every autumn. A forest garden attracts plenty of birds that, in return, contribute a lot of potassium through their droppings. Wood ash is also a good alternative if one wants to add something from outside. Plants rich in potassium that they release in the autumn:

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Phosphorus

Phosphorus is generally present in the soil in more than sufficient amounts, and it is rare that one needs to do anything extraordinary. Chemical fertilizers contain unnecessarily large amounts of it. Again, wood ash is a good alternative if there is a phosphorus deficiency in the soil.

However, the phosphorus deficiency in the world's phosphorus mines is a growing problem for the world's food supply. Fungi absorb many minerals, including phosphorus, which they release in an easily absorbable form through exchange or by dying and rotting. Psilocybin mushrooms in particular absorb large amounts of phosphorus to synthesize the psilocybin molecule which can contain as much as 2% of the mushroom's mass. Psilocybin mushrooms are easy to grow, and can be co-planted with annual crops. Cultivation guides for mushrooms are being prepared here.

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Nitrogen fixers that tolerate partial shade

Tall trees

Smaller trees/large shrubs

Smaller shrubs

Perennials

Potassium

Potassium is more difficult to supply on site than nitrogen. Potassium is particularly important for making the cell walls thick, which in turn is important for resistance to diseases, pests and animals. Almost all soils have plenty of potassium, but most of it is unabsorbable and is made available by weathering. Wormwood and certain ferns have a high content, which it releases every fall. A woodland garden attracts plenty of birds, which in turn add a lot of potassium via their droppings. Wood ash is also a good alternative if you want to add something from the outside. Plants rich in potassium that they release in the fall:

Phosphorus

The soil generally contains more than enough phosphorus and you rarely need to do anything extraordinary. Artificial fertilizers have unnecessarily large amounts in them. Again, wood ash is a good alternative if there is a phosphorus deficiency in the soil.

However, the phosphorus deficiency in the world's phosphorus mines is a growing problem for the world's food supply. Fungi absorb many minerals, including phosphorus, which they release in an easily absorbable form through exchange or by dying and rotting. Psilocybin mushrooms in particular absorb large amounts of phosphorus to synthesize the psilocybin molecule which can contain as much as 2% of the mushroom's mass. Psilocybin mushrooms are easy to grow, and can be co-planted with annual crops. Cultivation guides for mushrooms are being prepared here.

Other sources of fertilizer

Wormwood is the easiest plant to grow that adds plenty of extra nutrients to the soil. The reason for this is that it develops very deep roots that draw up minerals from deeper layers of the soil.

 

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