Decomposition and Effect on pH of Various Organic Soil Amendments
Decomposition and effect on soil properties and seedling growth of peat, sewage sludge, shredded cones, and 20-year-old slash pine sawdust were tested in field plots installed in a forest nursery in north Florida. After 18 months, the loss rates of organic material at, respectively, the 22.4, 44. 8, and 89.6 mt/ha additions were as follows: 62, 51, 51% for peat; 51, 54, 44% for sludge; 51, 68, 68% for cones; 73, 53, 50% for sawdust. Peat lowered soil reaction by 0.3 pH unit for each 1% increase in organic matter. Cones and sawdust lowered pH slightly after 12 months. Sludge increased pH from 5.7 to 6.5 initially, then reduced it to 4.8 after 3 months.
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Author(s): Kenneth R. Munson
Publication: 1982 Southern Nursery Conferences
Event:
Southern Nursery Conferences - Western Session
1982 - Oklahoma City, OK
Section: Soils, Organic Matter, and Mycorrhizae