The fruit jar test is also a good way to tell the % of organics in a soil test. In the pic shown there appears to be 0% which is not good! For most situations you desire as a minimum 3-6% which would normally be the top layer that settles out above the other three and it would be a dark gray. Some of the articles in this thread hint at how to deal with clay soils. Since clay particles are negatively charged, clay can absorb and hold higher ratios of moisture than most soils. But how do you get the desired performance if that is true?
- To much water is going to kill many plants, so drainage is often essential. Mounding is another form of drainage.
- As one member points out his clay soils do best in winter when rainfall is plentiful; so perhaps mulching to prevent drying out during dry spells is advised.
- Clay needs to be worked into the other constituents of soil to be most effective, so consider importing some night crawlers to achieve this effect. European and Canadian crawlers burrow deep into the soil strata and help bring minerals back to the surface on a daily basis.
- Adding organic matter frequently is also advised both as a mulch as well as food for organic decomposition.
- To get the most out of the benefit potential of your clay soils in addition to the points above an understanding of the article published by Purdue University that describes why a soils CEC can either hinder or promote your soil fertility. Google AY-238 to read this article.
Dennis
Kent, wa