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  • From: Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>
  • To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] Tight soil/Buckwheat
  • Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2002 10:17:26 -0500

At 08:03 AM 9/17/02 -0400, you wrote:
Good day:)
In a message dated 9/16/02 1:42:22 PM, mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu writes:

<< Both of these(alfalfa and daikon) are going to be unhappy in wet areas. >>

I knew about alfalfa..wasn't sure about daikon.

Tight, hard clay mineral soils with only 3-4" of top soil. Like
concrete when dry, like molding clay when wet.

<<Get some sulfur worked into that soil, gypsum and or ammonium sulfate. Mix
a little
buckwheat in with whatever you plant, really works miracles on many soils, 10
lb /a should be plenty in a mix (#'s for lb/a work about right for and kg/h)
.>>

Mark...this sounds like excellent advice. My soils tend to be high in
minerals especially calcium, and manganese. But soil tests at lab do NOT
include analysis for sulfur. So soil test recommendation on fertilizer do NOT
seem to take this into consideration.

S like N is a soluble anion, you ideally should apply a little each year. Use a pinch of ammonium sulfate (200lb/a?) in late spring or early summer next year.

So how do you know how much to apply, and in what form?

Re: Buckwheat

OK...is it too late to plant buckwheat this fall? What variety?
How should I handle buckwheat? I'll probably need to no till it in. Are there
any problems I should be aware of with the buckwheat.

Area does not lend itself to harvesting for hay...too many trees, wet spots
etc.. Will cattle graze it down sufficient to kill it? Or does that matter?
Remember I'm trying to build up lush English style meadows with a variety of
grasses, legumes etc..

Too late this year, it kills with frost. It is an annual and self seeds nicely given the chance. I'd just include a bit each time you seed.

Re Grass:

<<Plant more grass.>>

Yup...I have been doing that, and will continue to try, and thicken grass
stand.

Thanks for all the good input. All the best. Frank




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Mark P. Ludwig
Poultry Research Lab
University of Wisconsin -Madison
608-262-1730 WK
608-846-7125 HM





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