[pbs] NPK ratios?
J.E. Shields
jshields at indy.net
Sun Feb 3 07:42:23 EST 2008
Hi Rodger and all,
Well, I changed it back and forth a couple of times. I settled on "absorb"
because the kaolins can do an ion exchange, switching Ca++ for K+ in the
internal matrix of the clay. On the other hand, ion exchange phenomena are
probably best thought of as "adsorptions" as well, so (this morning) I tend
to agree with you. I have heard about the "different" clays of the North
American West, but I've not had any personal experience gardening in them.
Jim Shields
in central Indiana (USA)
At 06:55 PM 2/2/2008 -0800, you wrote:
>On 31 Jan 08, at 9:09, J.E. Shields wrote:
>
> > Clays can adsorb ions on their surfaces and can absorb [sic; ITYM
> > "adsorb"] ions internally.
>
>Not all clays. Lateritic clays have very poor adsorption powers,
>hence the poor soils in the Oregon Coast Range (Ref: Roadside Geology
>of Oregon), Africa, and the Amazon Basin.
>
>For those of you on the Left Coast, there's a very nice exposure of
>bright red lateritic soil on the east side of I-5 a little north of
>Grass Pants, Oregon. Just a small cut with some erosion that exposes
>the subsoil, but quite prominent because of the brilliant color.
>
>
>
>
>--
>Rodger Whitlock
>Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
>Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate
>
>on beautiful Vancouver Island
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*************************************************
Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd.
P.O. Box 92 WWW: http://www.shieldsgardens.com/
Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA
Tel. ++1-317-867-3344 or toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA
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