Soil Organic Matter Content
- To: Pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: Soil Organic Matter Content
- From: L*@aol.com
- Date: Sun, 30 Nov 1997 19:47:17 -0500 (EST)
Well, lets consider the amount of organic materials required for a garden.
This will probably result in some controversy.
I have seen several posts here about how much organic matter is necessary or
desirable in the pumpkin patch. It seems to me that some people are adding
way too much. In the northern states soil is usually made up of around 5%
organic matter. In the south, because of higher temperatures it is usually
around 3%. Having spent a little time looking into this, I believe garden
soil should not be made up of more than 10% organic matter. There is great
benefit from organic matter but over this amount may have a negative effect.
If your organic content is 10% then you probably have enough and don't need
to add more compost etc. The breakdown of compost in the garden increases
potassium possibly to an excess and depending on the content of the compost
may use up valuable nitrogen. Also there tends to be more disease in gardens
with high organic levels. I plan on keeping my organic content at around 10%.
Paula Zehr each year adds a thin layer of cow manure to her garden and plants
some winter rye. That's it. I think I understand better now why that is all
she does. Along with these amounts of organic materials some chemical
fertilizer is of course necessary and the amount is based on soil test
results. Any comments?? There should by all counts be an organic backlash!
Marv in Altoona.
PS: My deer fence is completed now except for attaching the plastic fencing.
The garden looks like a tennis court. No complaints yet from the neighbors.
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