Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>]

Yes! I wanted to say something like that, and you're running interference for 
me ... add organic matter. Why? Organic matter, compost adds fiber to sandy 
soil, loosens clay soil, drains excess water, holds moisture better, buffers 
pH, makes soil more hospitable to earthworms and microbes, and adds major 
nutrients and trace minerals in a form soil microbes can feed plants.

IMHO we simply can't micromanage soil nutrients or add a bit of this or that 
and expect that to solve some problem, mostly because soil science itself is 
in its infancy. Translation: the experts don't know enough about it.

paul tradingpost@lobo.net


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

On 3/21/2010 at 4:48 PM Ken Hargesheimer wrote:

>In TX, the Ag Ext. does it by sending it to some lab but I suggest you
>use an organic test and that cost nearly $100. Only one or two can do it
>here.
> 
>I had one and 2 yrs later another one.  My opinion is that it is a poor
>use of money. Do three things and do not worry about the soil.
> 
>1. Add organic matter
>2.Add organic matter
>3.Add organic matter
> 
>Ken Hargesheimer