Sandy soil warms early and is easy to work, but it leaks water and nutrients.
Fixes that work
- Add organic matter every year: compost, manure, crop residues. It is the best way to raise water-holding capacity.
- Irrigate lightly and often, ideally with drip, so water stays in the root zone rather than draining below.
- Split fertilizer into many small doses; one large dose leaches away, especially nitrogen and potassium.
- Mulch to cut evaporation.
- Grow cover crops between seasons to protect and feed the soil.
Crops that suit it
Groundnut, watermelon, sesame, carrot and date palm do well with the right management.
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