Re: Clay soil
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Clay soil
- From: B* S* <b*@tiger.hsc.edu>
- Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 11:42:37 -0600 (MDT)
My guess is that alfalfa pellets would be slightly acidic as they decay.
But for the most part, organic matter acts as a buffer in the soil and does
not change pH much. Buffers are substances that absorb and release
hydrogen ions and so tend to resist ("buffer") pH changes. Soil with
plenty of OM will generally be neutral to slightly acidic, all other things
being equal. I suspect for limestone-derived soils and southwestern
caliche it would take a lot of OM to change the pH or even buffer to
neutral.
An exception to the buffer effect is peat moss. This can create quite a
strongly acid environment and is also resistant to being broken down.
Here, where the soil is somewhat on the acid side, I always add lime with
peat moss, though I don't use it much any more since I now have all the
leaf mold I can use.
Nancy, I'm curious as to why sawdust would be "fatal" to your soil? All
the other amnendments you list are alkaline, so that makes sense. But
sawdust when fresh can be quite acidic, and when well-rotted is near
neutral (exceptions for sawdust derived entirely from certain trees).
Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@tiger.hsc.edu>
