Re: [compost_tea] Re: Inclusion of clay in compost

From: John Cowan <vivax_at_northlink.com>
Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2005 14:57:09 -0700
It seems that the question of how efficiently the clay might bond with
humus in a compost pile is relevant. There is an incredibly large
surface area of humus to bond with clay. Even if you fine-screened clay,
the particles would probably be as coarse as sand. If a compost pile was
turned a half dozen times, would that be enough to subdivide the clump
of clay and help it find a humus particle? Why not put the compost in
the soil and let it happen there? For a potting soil adding clay sounds
great.

Soil aggregation is extremely important and clay is basic to that. What
clay is best, though? It turns out that allophanic materials are the
best. According to one text, soil built with it has excellent structure
and SOM content 2 to 3 times that of soil made from non-allophanic
materials. Allophane is volcanic ash. Compared to other clays, it's
structure is much less ordered. It can bond anions as well as cations.
Those that farm in parts of the Pacific NW or tropics are particularly
blessed.

John Cowan

Jeff Lowenfels wrote:

>Someone asked about the size of clay particles.  If you took a teaspoon
>of sand and spread it out one grain thick, it would be about the size
>of a half dollar (US).  If you did the same thing with clay, you would
>need an area that would include a basketball court and the first ten
>rows of the stands!
>
>Cheers,
>
>Jeff
>Plant a row in your garden to feed the hungry.  Ask me  how to support
>Plant A Row For The Hungry.
>
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Received on Tue Feb 08 2005 - 01:33:58 EST

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