Re: CULT: Clay and Gypsum

From: HIPSource@aol.com

Donald Eaves wrote:

<< 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.
>>

This reminded me of something so I went to--you guessed it--the Archives and
found the posts I recalled. Simply stated, Donald it might be the limestone
that causes the soil to be neutral. I shall just reproduce some bits from some
posts of March, 1997. Those who want to read the thread will find it using the
word "buffering" as a search term.

Q<<<I live only yards from a limestone type bluff <snip> > I had my soil
tested when I moved here and >about every other year for many years.  It
tested over 7 then.  I have >added compost, peat, sulphur, apples and anything
else anyone could
>suggest to lower the ph but it is still nearly 7 now. ><snip>I have a drilled
well
>and my water has the same mineral content that the soil does so I would
>have to get water from another part of the county I suppose.  There is
>reasonably acid soil about 6 miles from me or less.>>>

A<<<This reminds me of an experiment we recently did in my Environmental 
 Biology class regarding acid rain.  We took 6 beakers, put granite chips 
 in the bottom of 3 and limestone chips in the bottom of the other 3. 
 Then we filled a beaker of each with a pH 3 solution, pH 5 solution, and 
 pH 7 solution.  The limestone acted as a remarkable buffering agent and 
 brought the pH in all 3 beakers it was in to around neutral in just a 
 matter of a couple hours (the solutions in the beakers with the granite 
 chips remained about the same in pH).  That limestone bluff near your 
 yard is the problem, no matter how much acid you try to add. >>>>

Anner Whitehead
HIPSource@aol.com

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