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livingontheland - Re: [Livingontheland] Livingontheland Digest, Vol 184, Issue 6

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Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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  • From: Daniel Conine <dconine@bertramwireless.com>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Livingontheland Digest, Vol 184, Issue 6
  • Date: Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:50:24 -0500

Another suggestion I have heard and it worked on some small spots( but I haven't tried it on a field) is to use alum.
(aluminum sulfate). In clay soil, it ties up the clay so that it forms larger particles and that allows more air for the acid-producing organisms and better drainage to get your other amendments to the roots, as well as adding some sulfur. Something to do with ionic bonds in the clay particles and the aluminum. My clay is very heavy and incorporating organic matter takes many years of work, so I'm trying to keep the heavy clay in grass, instead.
I don't remember what the recommended rate was. I think it was from Phil Wheeler.

Dan C.
Belgium, WI

Changing soil pH permanently is a difficult business. Pine needles take a
long time to break down and do any good. However, enough compost will
bufffer high or low pH somewhat and allow plants to grow which wouldn't do
well otherwise. In extreme cases it may be necessary to build new soil in
raised beds. This is what I do with great results. A lot of NM is alkaline.
One solution we saw at the NMSU organic farm at Alcalde was ingenious.
Their drip system to acid loving brambles has an injector that drips weak
vinegar at the roots instead of trying to acidify the whole plot.

paul tradingpost@lobo.net

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

On 3/7/2009 at 11:11 AM Marty Kraft wrote:

Thanks to you and the pumpkin lady.

I currently have a local coffee shop coming once a week with 10 gallons of grounds. They spread on one bed and then the next in order. I do that mostly to feed the worms. I've heard conflicting stories about the acidification from grounds. I wonder about pine needles, that they might acidify.

I have been tested for zinc, iron, manganese, copper and boron. MU Extension says all high. Boron slightly high. Logan lab test say boron slightly low and my broccoli have hollow stems.

Marty
On Mar 6, 2009, at 3:20 PM, Pete Vukovich wrote:






  • Re: [Livingontheland] Livingontheland Digest, Vol 184, Issue 6, Daniel Conine, 03/08/2009

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