Re: coffee grounds as acidifiers
David King wrote:
>
>> It takes a lot of material to substantially effect one's soil. I would think
> that you'd have a helluva time moving your pH even one factor with coffee
> grounds even if that's what you set out to do. (Snip)
>
> > >By themselves, coffee grounds have a lot of nitrogen, and will attract and
> > >breed a LOT of earthworms.
One of the most interesting findings of organic experiments is that once
a soil is alive with all the appropriate organisms, irrespective of what
it starts at, the pH will gradually even itself out, usually somewhere
close below the neutral point in cropped beds, but probably somewhat
lower in shrubberies. It seems that the organisms in such live soils can
markedly influence the reaction of the substrate according to their own
needs and the needs of the plants they associate with. In fact some
organic thinkers now say that pH is no more than an indicator of soil
health, in the same way that the temperature of a human body indicates
whether it is well or not. Plenty of earthworms would indicate to me
that the coffee grounds cannot be making the soil very acid, a condition
they do not like.
It was long thought, for instance, that pine needles would always
acidify a soil, but experiments using them as mulch in gardens and
adding them to compost heaps, has now shown not to be the case. The
acidity of some soils where pines for instance grow is then probably due
to the particular soil flora in the area, with usually a predominence of
fungi which live more happily where conditions are acid. In gardens,
where there are more bacteria in the soil populations the development
of acidity is much more unlikely whatever organic materials are applied.
If I were using a lot of coffee grounds I would be more concerned to
balance them with enough carbon to mop up all that lovely nitrogen
before it escapes into the air as ammonia.
I have ceased to worry about pH in my own garden, though I occasionally
add a little lime to vegetable beds, more to ensure the soil has
sufficient calcium than for any effect on the reaction of the soil.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand. (on the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
Lat. 41:16S Long. 174:58E. Climate: Mediterranean/Temperate
