David Hare-Scott wrote:
songbird wrote:
David Hare-Scott wrote:
Ted Shoemaker wrote:
...
So let's add compost. But, in order to add enough calcium in
compost form, I'd have to add several inches (in vertical depth) of
of compost. That would smother the lawn. Nope. Not gonna do it.
I don't want to re-plant the lawn.


Compost is good for depleted soil for many reasons but it will not
increase calcium very much if at all.

if you add enough to improve the habitat for
worms they will increase calcium levels. worms
do secrete calcium.


The worms will just recycle the calcium already in the environment so this
would have no net effect.

no net effect if you are looking at it
from a physical/chemical component level.
i think that differs if you look at it
from a nutrient tied up in certain forms
level and how the worms actually ingest
and alter the soil they ingest.

if a worm ingests a calciferous fragment
they will grind it in their gizzard along
with everything else they ingest. add to
that secreted calcium. i think all of
these things would increase available
calcium in the soil (which is what is more
important to plants than calcium levels
tied up in forms that aren't very
accessible).

wish i had a lab set up for this sort
of thing as i think the experiments would
be interesting in and of themselves.


also many plants do have calcium, that doesn't
disappear when compost is made (or if it does
where does it go?).


All plants have calcium (but not much) and it doesn't go away when they die
or are composted (unlike nitrogen). However this is a very inefficient way
to add calcium to your soil, especially if the compost came from your
calcium depleted soil in the first place.

i suspect the original poster is talking
about adding additional compost from another
source.


just be careful as adding too much compost all
at once will likely encourage fungal diseases (
if you smother the grass).


Obviously I can't believe everything I hear or read.

What do you suggest?

Thank you.


Ted where did you get this information? Have you tested the pH? If
not do so before you act.

agreed.

but really, it makes more sense to plant grasses
or add other plants to the mix that will tolerate
existing conditions. leave the amendments and
compost for the garden beds that you want to alter
to fit specific crops (much smaller areas, less
expensive, etc.).

This is an option but if liming is suitable in the situation it is not
difficult nor particularly expensive.

also true, but i'm not a big fan of encouraging
lawns to grow even more so they need to be mowed
more often, etc.


songbird