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Re[2]: Soil Amendments for clay soil

Kim writes:

>A soil scientist told me last year when I had my soil tested
>(alkaline clay) that it is a common misconception that to help clay
>soil you add gypsum.  Gypsum is only beneficial in certain cases.
>It isn't in mine.  I believe it has something do do with excess
>sodium in the soil that the gypsum (calcium I believe) locks up.
>Maybe someone else can elaborate on this.

Living in So. Cal., we have alkaline soil. Not clay, mostly sand.
I've been told to add gypsum to the soil, not because it's clay
or sand, but because it is calcium sulfate and it reduces the
pH of the soil to a more acid level, which most veggies prefer.
Living on the coast, you might have salty soil, and it is
possible that the calcium sulfate might react with sodium
chloride to make sodium sulfite and calcium chloride, but I
am not sure if either of these compounds would be "locked"
in that form and not solubilized to their component ions...
Shawn
swestaway@smtplink.coh.org
Claremont, Ca
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