Re: Why use uncomposted leaves?
buck meier wrote:
> This weekend I did numerous soil tests and could not believe the amount
> of micronutrients and fertility I lost this year. I then had the soil
> lab at my local University test it-same results. Nitrogen levels were
> extremely depleted. So I spent a few hours at the library, now I'm more
> confused. Every book I read told me not to add leaves that were not
> composted to my soil. From Rodales's Garden Problem Solver, RE: Fall
> soil amendments;"-----adding organic material (in the fall) such as
> chopped leaves, chopped straw, or peat moss will ease the compaction and
> drainage problems, but such materials takes nitrogen from the soil as it
> decomposes, and over time, it reduces the amount of nitrogen available
> to your food crops.----Leaves, especially Maple, contain growth
> inhibiting phenols that should be allowed to leach away for 8 to 12
> months before they are used. Finished compost containing leaves doesn't
> deplete since it has already decomposed."
>
> Every book I read regarding soil amendments said pretty much the same
> principle. I used shredded leaves in the fall of 1997, and I had a
> depleted nitrogen content when I tested in May, which I corrected with
> bloodmeal and langbeinite. This correction is only to be done every two
> years according to my Univ. soil lab.
>
> Maybe putting down a layer of shredded leaves that have not been
> composted is not a good idea? Please prove what I've researched is
> wrong-because I put 3 inches of shredded leaves on top of my winter rye
> last week, and I don't feel like taking them off.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Buck
>
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Buck,
Loosening the soil is your objective , what you have done by spreading
leaves could be considered sheet composting............the list of growers
that practice this is long and lengthy............anytime you add organic
matter to the soil you run the risk of introducing some weird
pathengens...........but 9 times out of ten you help your soil condition by
adding organic matter.........so the studies may be saying it ain't
camelot.........if it was me i let the leaves
lie......................brock
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