Re: Clay soil
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Clay soil
- From: B* S* <b*@tiger.hsc.edu>
- Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 09:43:26 -0600 (MDT)
>Hmmmm. Bill, is it not correct that most organic matter as it decomposes
>has an acidifying effect on the soil? I found that the Ph of my raised
>beds was more acid that the surrounding native soil (down to 5.9 in some
>spots) so I added some oyster shell as a buffer to keep the Ph in a more
>neutral range. I had used redwood soil conditioner as the primary
>organic matter additive.
Redwood sawdust is one of the amendments that is often described as very
acidic. Most of the decay-resistant woods contain large amounts of acidic
tannins. For us here in Virginia it is well to avoid oak sawdust until it
is well-decayed. It also depends on where your soil is to begin with; a
soil that contains little organic matter but is already acid or neutral can
be acidified by amendments like redwood sawdust.
I would bet that the pH would have shifted back toward neutral slowly as
the redwood decayed. Ground oyster shells are an excellent source of
calcium and are effective for a good long time as they break down rather
slowly.
Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@tiger.hsc.edu>
