Re: CULT: Clay and Gypsum
- Subject: Re: CULT: Clay and Gypsum
- From: D* E*
- Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 03:36:36 -0800
From: "Donald Eaves" <donald@eastland.net>
Hello folks,
Here in central west Texas with hard compacted red clay, I use
copious amounts of gypsum (I find the pelleted easier to handle, but
will use either) along with all the organic material I can work into a
bed. It helps, but it still takes years to get a good friable soil. Also,
it seems to help the clay underneath drain a bit better. Tap rooted
plants can waterlog and rot even when the upper 14 inches have been
well spaded and amended since the clay holds too much moisture
once it gets really soaked. When dry, it sheds water like hardpan
in a field. My ph is pretty neutral, so I have lots of leeway in using
the gypsum. I thought the soil would be somewhat alkaline since
limestone outcrops here along with sandstone, but it isn't. Are oak
leaves acidic? I've wondered if they are and the years of rotting
leaves have caused the soil to be neutral.
Donald Eaves
donald@eastland.net
Texas Zone 7
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