Lime into clay

ColorMeGreen · May 20, 2002

I've heard that you can get clay to break up a bit by putting lime into it. Someone suggested putting sheetrock (I'm building a house) into the soil? Anyone heard of this and/or tried it?
Thanks

rf33 · May 21, 2002

I have heard of putting sheetrock into clay, but it is not lime it is called gypsum. Better than sheetrock, talk to your local ag fertilizer people, and they will likely have ag grade gypsum either in bags or in bulk. It can help to break down the clay in your soil.

TerryinMD · May 21, 2002

Turning clay into a good freeable soil takes a bit of work.

The first thing to do is to locate some pelletized lime. The reason to use it is that it releases the soil "sweeteners" over time.

The other thing that you need to do is to begin to add lots of compost and other organic matter. If you can, get as much of the organic matter as possible and work it into the soil for a couple of months before winter sets in. Then, grow a good cover crop such as winter rye or buckwheat and then turn the cover crop over in the spring. Let it set for a couple of weeks and then till the soil. You'll be on your way to having great soil.

We have a couple of garden beds which have a bunch of clay and it has taken us several years to get the soil into good, workable condition.

Terry

rf33 · May 21, 2002

Terry, you are right about the lime also helping to flocculate (good word huh/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif) clay particles. I only mentioned gypsum, as that is what sheetrock is. Both lime and gypsum flocculate clay particles, and you should use lime if you need to raise the pH of your soil and gypsum if you do not want to change the pH. I have had little experience with the pelletized lime, but I think the the slow release over time effect sounds good too. I might combine some pellets with some powder to get a good initial concentration in the soil, and keep it that way for a while.

TerryinMD · May 21, 2002

Flocculate - To form lumpy or fluffy masses.

Almost sounds like a word to be used after eating large quantities of legumes, brassicas, fermented malt beverages, boiled avarian female gametes, aged curded milk, and the such..... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Okay... are we forming lumpy masses of soil (sounds kinda bad to me) or fluffy masses ( a pillow perhaps). An interesting word to be sure. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Terry

rf33 · May 21, 2002

Actually Terry, the addition of a flocculating agent to clay has the effect of keeping the particle size too large to form clay. Clay forms when many very small particles and just the right amount of water combine. By adding a flocculating agent, the particles are surrounded by the flocculant, and grow too large to form a suspension. The same principle can work in ponds which are murky due to high clay contents. The addition of gypsum (not lime in this case as it would raise the pH too much) will cause the clay to "fall out of suspension" to the bottom of the pond, and the water will clarify. I know that I am over-simplifying this complex topic, but suffice it to say that the flocculant such as gypsum or lime makes the individual particles in your soil larger, too large to form a suspension like clay, and improves the ability of water to pass through the soil. I hope this helps/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

TerryinMD · May 21, 2002

We are forming lumpy masses!! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

So, this is analogous to people eating fatting foods and ..... no, no, no... won't go there. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

rf33 - thanks for the info.

Terry