noun
amendment
Material added to improve soil.
Compost serves as a soil amendment.
Etymology
To amend is to improve or put right. A soil amendment carries that sense into gardening: it is material added to improve the soil’s condition.
More examples
- The gardener mixed the amendment into the clay.
- A soil test can guide the choice of amendment.
- They compared several amendments for improving drainage.
Forms
amendment · amendments
Similar words
- fertilizer
- Primarily supplies plant nutrients rather than any soil improvement.
- conditioner
- Emphasizes improving the soil's physical properties.