Re: coffee grounds as acidifiers
- To: "medit-plants"
- Subject: Re: coffee grounds as acidifiers
- From: G* B*
- Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 16:40:46 +0200
>
>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.
Interesting.
Can anyone please advise the effect the ph of irrigation water would have on
the system. Most domestic water supplies are alkaline as they have been
limed to prevent corrosion of metalic parts of the plumbing systems -
usually ph 8 -8.5. Could this help neutralise & counteract the acidifying
tendencies of compost ?
I'm pumping from a header dam supplied from a well point. My ground water is
in the 6.0 to 6.5 range but I got a hell of a shock the other day on
measuring my dam water to find it at 5.0 to 5.5.
Any ideas on this at all ?
Regards
Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph SA 021 7904253 Fax SA 021 7905139 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
