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[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Bill Jones wrote:
> >
> None, of course.  No elementary text talks about insoluble acids at 
> all.  That phrase has no meaning the way they define acids, aqueously.  
> That's why I asked how an insoluble solid can be acidic, obviously.

I don't have time to explain it, but look up what happens to DNA when 
the pH is lowered...it becomes insoluble.


> > First, peat moss is a generic term..there are different kinds of peat
> > and peat moss, and they are not created equal.  Moss peat comes from
> > mosses, while other peats come from swamp type plants that have
> > decomposed. Sphagnum peat moss is acid and doesn't rot easily so plants
> > grow right into it.
> But does it resist rotting even when neutralized?

I have no idea.  You could easily set up a simple experiment and report 
back in 6-12 months.


> That one sentence was the only answer I ever needed.  I suspected that 
> to be true, and it's of more than just theoretical importance.  I've 
> found that the hardest element to provide potatoes and other roots, if 
> you don't have enough compost, is potassium. 

Wood ashes are a good source...potash..


 I've taken to soaking
> sphagnum peat in potassium carbonate solution, in hopes that the 
> potassium ions would cling to it, for gradual release later.  It should 
> mimic the effect of compost, as far as potassium is concerned, and we 
> have alfalfa and bone meal for other nutrients.  It sure seems to work, 
> but then, I never had a _bad_ crop of yacon.  But I didn't really know 
> whether the potassium would rinse right out or not.  There are a number 
> of experiments I could devise to test this, but it was easier just to ask.

Experiment, because what works for you at your location might not work 
for someone else, and visa versa. Everyone has different soils, 
different water, different climates, etc., and there will always be 
surprise interactions from the environment.  Gardening is kind of like 
Chaos theory...weird things can happen.
You've made a couple of comments about alfalfa and K.  I don't think K 
when I think alfalfa, I think Ca...it's loaded with it..chemically, the 
Calcium will react with the same things as the potassium for the most 
part.  One thing to remember is that any plant like alfalfa will suck up 
nutrients from the soil from which it was grown.  Your alfalfa might be 
grown in a selenium or boron rich soil, for example, and mine might not 
be..your alfalfa might be higher in K than mine.  It depends on where it 
was grown.  Certain plants "mine" certain minerals and if you mulch with 
those plants, you make those minerals bio-available to what you are 
trying to grow.  Alfalfa is deep rooted-like 4 feet or more, so it is a 
great plant to mulch with because its roots can access minerals that are 
deeper in a strata of soil that has not been depleted.  The plant 
'mines' the minerals, then you cut the plant and use it as mulch, 
effectively bringing that mineral to the surface where say, something 
like lettuce can benefit.


> I really do love you, Bev.  I apologize if my hatred for political 
> sophistry rubbed off onto you.

No problema.  Because I delete or skim political posts, half the time I 
simply don't know what you are talking about, and the other half the 
time, I just don't have the time to respond...sorry.


Bev, on vacation for two weeks..YIPPEE

--
Bevanron of EarthNSky Farm   Sleep well tonight, for somewhere in the 
ocean's depths, MY son is protecting YOUR freedom.