During the preparation of the COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH REPORT: Regenerative Agriculture EUROPE-AFRICA, our Croatian team made interwiev with members of the “Živa zemlja” association, who, among other things, repeatedly mentioned how they rely on the land, the plants and animals on it. So even from the weeds that grow on the ground, You can get an idea of what kid of soil You have, whether it is poor or rich in organic matter, whether it lacks something, what to grow on which part of land, or how to improve the ground.
Below is given a list of some common weeds that grow on European soil, as well as their basic characteristics:
- Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) grows in soil that is rich in nitrogen.
- Ambrosia (Ambrosia) indicates low fertility
- Chicory (Cichorium intybus) grows in soil rich in nitrogen, and in compact, alkaline soil.
- Catchweed bedstraw (Galium aparine) grows on loam
- Mullein plant (Verbascum) grows in acidic soil with low fertility
- Wild carrot (Daucus carota) grows in weak, alkaline soils
- Spurge (Euphorbia verna) grows in dry and light soils
- Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) likes rich, humus soils
- Nettle (Urtica dioica) grows in rich, acidic soil
- Cockspur grass (Echinochloa crus – galli) likes calcium-poor, acidic soils
- Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) indicates dry, sandy, acidic soil poor in nutrients and low in calcium.
- Lichens indicate muddy, acidic soil with little nutrients
- Baconweed (Chenopodium album) grows on soil rich in nitrogen
- Purple clover (Oxalis triangularis) indicates low calcium and high magnesium
- Purple comfrey (Symphytum officinale) grows in moist and heavy soils
- Dandelion (Taraxacum) grows in poor soils that lack calcium, but have a high proportion of potassium
- The mouse (Stellaria media) likes loose, humus soils, which are sufficiently moist
- Dead nettle (Lamium amplexicaule) indicates nitrogen-rich soil
- Common sedge (Galinsoga parviflora) grows in humus soils
- Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) indicates extremely fertile soil
- Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) grows in poorly drained soil that is poor in nutrients. Prefers sandy, acidic soil
- Purslane (Elymus repens) grows in compact, heavy clay soil
- Polish clover (Trifolium arvense) is one of the important indicators of dry and light soil
- Field mustard (Sinapis arvensis), which is a member of the cabbage family, grows in dry, sandy soil with a high phosphorus content.
- Polish yarrow (Anthemis arvensis) is an indicator of acidic soil, poor in calcium
- Cornflower (Centaurea) indicates soil rich in potassium
- Shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa – pastoris) grows on rich, humus soils
- Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) grows where potassium and fertility are low, and the soil is sandy and dry.
- Magpie (Digitaria sanguinalis) grows in depleted soil with a low calcium content
- Broad ash (Atriplex patula) is an indicator of humus, quality soil
- Horsetail (Rumex crispus) likes acidic and light soils, it is an indicator of weak soil
- Daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare) grow in acidic, often muddy soil with poor fertility
- Common Purslane prefers rich soil and is an indicator of a high phosphorus content.
- Goldenrods (Solidago) grows in wet, swampy and poorly drained soil
- Plantain (Plantago major) grows in compacted, acidic soil with low fertility and often indicates clay soil
Whatever weeds are growing on Your property, You don’t have to pull them out Yourself. Weed flowers will attract bees and bumblebees that will help pollinate Your vegetables. Weeds also support biodiversity and can deter certain harmful insects from Your vegetables or provide cover for beneficial insects such as ladybugs. In addition, some of these weeds are very edible, so You can use them in salads and stews after You pull them, but of course, only after You are absolutely sure that it is exactly that weed.
Source:
https://www.agroklub.com/poljoprivredne-vijesti/korovi-su-odlicni-indikatori-zemljista/41710/