North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Michael Dossett <phainopepla@yahoo.com>]

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@yahoo.com

----- Original Message ----
From: akmanty <akmanty@sbcglobal.net>
To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@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@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



Who's never won? Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music.
_______________________________________________
nafex mailing list
nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Reproduction of list messages or archives is not allowed.
This includes distribution on other email lists or reproduction on web sites.
Permission to reproduce is NEVER granted, so don't claim you have permission!

**YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO POST!**
Posts from email addresses that are not subscribed are discarded.
No exceptions. 
----
To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to the bottom of this page (also can be used to change other email options):
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex

File attachments are NOT stripped by this list.
TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES!
Please do not send binary files.
Use plain text ONLY in emails!

NAFEX web site:   http://www.nafex.org/

_______________________________________________
nafex mailing list
nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Reproduction of list messages or archives is not allowed.
This includes distribution on other email lists or reproduction on web sites.
Permission to reproduce is NEVER granted, so don't claim you have permission!

**YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO POST!**
Posts from email addresses that are not subscribed are discarded.
No exceptions. 
----
To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to the bottom of this page (also can be used to change other email options):
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex

File attachments are NOT stripped by this list.
TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES!
Please do not send binary files.
Use plain text ONLY in emails!

NAFEX web site:   http://www.nafex.org/

-----Inline Attachment Follows-----

_______________________________________________
nafex mailing list
nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Reproduction of list messages or archives is not allowed.
This includes distribution on other email lists or reproduction on web sites.
Permission to reproduce is NEVER granted, so don't claim you have permission!

**YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO POST!**
Posts from email addresses that are not subscribed are discarded.
No exceptions. 
----
To subscribe or unsubscribe, go to the bottom of this page (also can be used to change other email options):
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/nafex

File attachments are NOT stripped by this list.
TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES!
Please do not send binary files.
Use plain text ONLY in emails!

NAFEX web site:  http://www.nafex.org/

---

Never miss a thing.   Make Yahoo your homepage.