CULT: Clay and Gypsum
- Subject: CULT: Clay and Gypsum
- From: H*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 10:18:40 EST
From: HIPSource@aol.com
In a message dated 98-11-04 10:06:13 EST, you write:
<< In California where if it is not raining some soil? is as hard as an adobe
brick we use gypsum to help with the problem. At a recent talk by Richard
Richards [reblooming iris], he reccommended that to our heavy clay soil we
add about 1 pound per square foot [That's about 2 cups] and work it into the
soil. >>
When the question of gypsum arose before here I did some research. which I
posted, which cast doubt on the effectiveness of gypsum on acidic soils. The
soils in the western part of the country tend to be sodic and thus gypsum is
effective. Here in the east we tend to be acidic. My guess is there is a
sliding scale on this with a point of dimishing returns and some areas where
cost effectiveness is the question, but this is something else to ask the
County Extension Agent. You'll want to do a soil test in any case.
One also hears a lot about using sand to break up clay, which some folks says
just makes it worse. Overall, the best thing to amend clay soil with is
organic matter like compost. And it is important to remember that clay soil
can be very good soil, rich in minerals and with a fine capacity to hold
water. With copius organic matter, you can get some real good dirt going.
Anner Whitehead
HIPSource@aol.com
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