Re: CULT: Clay and Gypsum
- Subject: Re: CULT: Clay and Gypsum
- From: P* B*
- Date: Wed, 04 Nov 1998 13:34:37 -0700
From: Pat Bass <bpbass@gj.net>
HIPSource@aol.com wrote:
> 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
>
Regarding gypsum or organic matter--I tried both in Kansas where I had sticky when
wet, hard when dry soil. The organic matter is the best, especially grass
clippings. Be careful there is no bermuda or that kind of pestiferous grasses
though. Am enjoying the discussion on all these things. The soil here where I
live in CO is what they call 'dobe. There are 'dobes at the foot of Grand Mesa
and at the foot of the mountains, and the soil here is like that--hard when dry,
sticky when wet, so I have some work to do here on my soil, too. Pat
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