permaculture

["Kevin Topek" <ktopek@houston.rr.com>]

Antonio,

Gypsum increases the soil's pH a lot! Try and avoid its use. It will cause
clay particles to disassocite, but the increase in pH is detrimental to a
lot of trees, ornamentals and vegetables. Mulch and compost do more than
gypsum. The humic acids break apart the clay as does the action of
earthworms feeding on bacteria that digest the mulch. Slime molds and fungi
also increase the carbon holding capacity of the clay soil and keep it loose
and friable. Gypsum only sinks and never acts above the level it is at. I
really do not recommend it, even as a short term solution.

Kevin


----- Original Message -----
From: <sinergyinaction@netscape.net>
To: <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2006 9:35 AM
Subject: [permaculture] Gypsum


> Hi
> how can one know that a land needs gypsum as an amendment and how much to
use?
> does any clay soil need it?
> Thanks
> Antonio
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Check Out the new free AIM(R) Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading
spam and email virus protection.
> _______________________________________________
> permaculture mailing list
> permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture