CROPS ON ORGANIC SOILS

Organic soils (mucks) are heavy producers of vegetables and other specialized crops (such as mint) in Michigan.  Many of our vegetables are grown on drained Histosols.  Note the head lettuce being grown on deep muck (below).  Histosols are particularly adapted to vegetables not only because of their inherent fertility, but because the soil is very loose and roots can develop in them quite easily.  Note also (below) that these mucks must usually be irrigated, since they do not hold much water, and the water table has been lowered by artificial drianage.

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Source:  Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan State University

Other crops grown on mucks include carrots, onions and radishes.  The two images below are of radishes on a muck field in Barry County.

Source:  Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan State University

Source:  Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan State University

This material has been compiled for educational use only, and may not be reproduced without permission.  One copy may be printed for personal use.  Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) for more information or permissions.