[NAFEX] compost, peatmoss, and soil ph

Michael Dossett phainopepla at yahoo.com
Mon Jan 28 10:37:33 EST 2008


There are lots of different kinds of sawdust but I think most use what they can get easily without having it be super expensive.  If the sawdust is on the surface it shouldn't need much extra nitrogen (breaks down more slowly) but that depends a little bit on how old it is and what the C:N ratio is.  Interestingly a lot of growers here were incorporating sawdust in the soil at planting time as well but recent research has shown that, at least in good blueberry soil, this has a negative effect partly because of tying up nitrogen but also because the plants needed significantly (3x or more) water, and even more when they were planted on raised beds (now becoming the norm for machine harvest plantings in the PNW).  Sawdust on the surface should be beneficial but be careful of what you're incorporating and how it might effect the plants.

Michael
 
Michael Dossett
Corvallis, Oregon
www.Mdossettphoto.com
phainopepla at yahoo.com

----- Original Message ----
From: akmanty <akmanty at sbcglobal.net>
To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 2:01:44 PM
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] compost, peatmoss, and soil ph




??  Does it make any difference as to what kind of
sawdust?  Must you then add nitrogen?

Karen





At 12:16 PM 1/27/2008, you wrote:

i would use sawdust, or wood
ash. all the commercial growers in the willamette valley, oregon apply
sawdust mulch every year for increasing acidity and adding organic
matter.  sand isn't going to do squat.  leaf mulch might help,
but it would have to be applied year after year, with minor effect. 
a pine/fir needle mulch might do better than oak leaf even. 



peaceful valley farm supply carries "tiger 90" an organic
approved sulfur product formulated for lowering pH.  remember sulfur
overdoses can be toxic.


karen tillou

oregon city, OR - zone 8a and wet


On Jan 26, 2008, at 8:36 PM,
Jerrydana5 at aol.com
wrote:


I have
several blueberry bushes and am going to add several more this spring. I
have a ton of natural leaf compost from our yard leaves and can add some
peat moss also for organic matter and to help bring ph down.  The
soil is rich, but too acid--about 6.5 to 6.8 (probably due to adding a
lot of horse manure mixed with horse urine.  I've had the soil
tested and it is very rich, but not acid enough for blueberries. 
Other plants due well.)  The leaf compost is from maple and oak
leaves.  It is well composted.

Which would be better to add to my soil for organic matter and to bring
the ph down into the proper range for blueberries?  Peatmoss or leaf
compost?  Or both?  Possibly some sand, also?  THe
blueberries I have now are doing fair, but not fantastic.  I am
adding some sulfur also the bring the ph down.

Jerry in southern Indiana







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