"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
...
On Mon, 10 Jul 2006 00:53:01 GMT, "Plant Info"
wrote:

Gypsum or lime ONLY if your soil is on the acid side. If it's alkaline,
it
will only make it more so.
Suzy, Wisconsin Zone 5

Gypsum is a neutral salt and *does NOT* raise pH. This is easily
discovered with
a simple search of the 'net.

The discussion of pH misses the point anyway. The OP's got a problem with
clay soil, which, at its worst, is next to impossible to work with unless
you plan on cultivating with a backhoe. pH is the least of your worries in
such a situation.

Gypsum will not raise the soil ph. It has a neutral or slightly acidic
effect on soil. It does displace sodium, this is what makes a soil more
workable. Gypsum contains 23% calcium and 15% sulphur. Calcium is alkaline,
sulphur is acidic. (I presume the 2 elements cancel each other out somehow.)

Limes that do effect soil ph are agricultural lime (calcium carbonate-this
takes some time to work), dydrated lime (calcium hydroxide-quick acting but
not to be applied with fertilisers) and Dolomite lime which also contains
high levels of magnesium (12%) along with calcium (24%).

source - Yates Garden Guide.

rob