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Re: [GWL]: A New Rant

According to recent research at CSU:

"When applied to our soils, sulfur must be oxidized by
soil bacteria to the sulfate form; then sulfate
reacting with water forms sulfuric acid.  In our
soils, the bacteria responsible for sulfur oxidation
are sparse, so the reaction may take many months or
years.  If sulfate is formed, it just reacts with the
lime (calcium) usually prevalent in our soil to form
gypsum (calcium sulfate).   The bottom line:  Don't
spend a lot of money on it unless a soil test shows
that your soil has low lime levels [not always the
same as high pH]."

and.. 
"Gypsum is claimed to 'break up and loosen clay
soils.'  In areas of high calcium (calcareous) soil,
this is a local myth.  Gypsum (calcium sulfate) added
to clay soils having high sodium replaces the sodium
with calcium, a much more desirable soil condition. 
The sodium is than leached out of the soil with water.
Locally, however, clay soils already are high in
calcium.  High sodium soils are rare in Colorado. 
Adding calcium to a soil that does not need it is a
waste of money.  Additional calcium in the form of
gypsum, a salt, will only make soils more saline."

This is a good example of "qualifying" for the area
and is certainly appropriate for Colorado.

Joe
--- Graham Rice <garden@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
> 10.  Sulfur to reduce alkaliinity
> Errrr.... sulfur does reduce alkalinity. A research
> station in 
> Britain concluded that the only way to grow
> blueberries on the 
> generally alkaline or slightly acid British soil was
> to... increase 
> the acidity by adding sulfur!
> 
> 11.  Gypsum for breaking up clay soils
> It worked when I tried it. Flocculation is the
> technical term.
> 
> Graham Rice
> 
> http://grahamrice.com
> 
> 
> 
> >You've hit on one of my favorites subjects:
> debunking
> >garden myths. 
> >
> >You've also hit on one of my favorite soapboxes:
> the
> >unthinking perpetuation of bad information through
> the
> >quick writing of books and newspaper or magazine
> >articles.
> >
> >Coincidently, I've started collecting gardening
> myths.
> >  Searching the internet hasn't produced many and
> of
> >the few it has produced, the evidence behind the
> >rebuttal isn't complete.
> >
> >I, too, can't imagine that a book on the subject
> would
> >end up on too many gardeners' bookshelves.  But it
> >seems to me that it would behoove any writer of
> >regular weekly or monthly columns to throw one in
> with
> >every column or two (seasonally appropriate, of
> >course).
> >
> >For those of you who don't mind, I'd like to know
> what
> >you have on paper or in your head that fits the
> >subject of garden myth.  As someone else has said,
> I
> >don't want to turn this into a gardening discussion
> --
> >versus a writing discussion -- but I wouldn't mind
> a
> >listing of such myths.  Here's my collection so
> far,
> >albeit cryptic (I think you'll figure them out):
> >
> >1.  Tilling soil regularly
> >2.  Yellow tomatoes are less acid
> >3.  Topping trees
> >4.  Pruning flush
> >5.  Pruning paint
> >6.  Pruning back crown of new trees
> >7.  Peonies need ants to bloom
> >8.  Topsoil use
> >9.  Soil under oaks and pines is acid
> >10.  Sulfur to reduce alkaliinity
> >11.  Gypsum for breaking up clay soils
> >12.  Watering overhead during sunny days
> >13.  Amending soil for planting large plants
> >I'm sure I've missed some obvious ones, but it's
> early
> >in the morning here.
> >
> >Care to add to this?
> >
> >Joe
> >
> >--- Jeff Ball <jeffball@starband.net> wrote:
> >>  There is nothing we can do about this problem,
> but I
> >>  have to get it off my
> >>  chest.
> >>  The problem is the continuing spread of bad
> >>  information by a few garden
> >>  writers and many too many non-garden writers
> >>  assigned gardening topics in
> >>  newspapers, magazines, press releases, and
> books.
> >>
> >>  And I know that most everyone else in the garden
> >>  writing business is doing
> >>  exactly the same thing.  As my son would say,
> "Suck
> >>  it up Dad, you're not
> >>  going to change everything in the world".  Ah
> such
> >>  wisdom from someone only
> >>  35 years old.
> >>  End of rant for the day
> >>  Still Frustrated
> >>  Jeff Ball
> >>
> >
> >=====
> >Joe Seals
> >Santa Maria, Calilfornia --
> >where the weather is always perfect
> >and my garden always has something blooming
> >
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> 


=====
Joe Seals
Santa Maria, Calilfornia --
where the weather is always perfect
and my garden always has something blooming

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