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| So for the past two years, we've been putting in wood ash from our wood stove, which we burn a lot, and also the manure from our six chickens. We've never used the compost (had some other things going on), just tossed it around once in a great while.
Then one day I read about the negative effects of too much wood ash. Our soil tends to be alkaline so making it more so wouldn't be a good thing. So I asked my hub to dig out the compost and put it in an unused part of the garden, thinking we had to start over with our compost for next Spring. But as he dug it out, we felt so bad, because it looked so great. All that stuff we'd been putting in for two years had turned into this beautiful-looking, fine, dirt-type stuff. So then I did a Ph test, and found that our mix tested as neutral. So what do ya'll think? It's so gorgeous, I'd love to till it in to the vegie gardens. Would there be too much salt from the wood ash? How do I tell? Should I do a PNK type test? (or is it KPN? But you know what I mean...) I should also add that we've put some leaves, lawn clippings, and kitchen scraps in there as well. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by berryman135678 (My Page) on Wed, Nov 9, 11 at 9:47
| Just try a test plot of 3x 3 or something, maybe plant something all around hardy there, then test soil again. |
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- Posted by toxcrusadr (My Page) on Wed, Nov 9, 11 at 10:34
| The rain and composting action has obviously washed away and/or neutralized the alkali. If it looks like good compost I'd use it. Since it's fall (assuming you are in the northern hemisphere), spread it on the garden or till it in now. By spring the worms will have done their thing and it should be good to go. |
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- Posted by gonebananas 7/8 (My Page) on Wed, Nov 9, 11 at 10:38
| The decomposition of the chicken waste's organic nitrogen would pass through an ammonia (or ammonium) stage and then an ammonia-to-nitrate conversion by microbes. The latter reaction releases acidity, which may have helped neutralize the alkalinity. Additionally, the carbon dioxide produced from organic decomposition reacts with the calcium oxide and then calcium carbonate produced from the wood ash, raising pH. Similarly with the potassium oxide and then carbonate, though this is very soluble and will tend to leach out readily in a pile out under the rain. If the proportions of ash to "poop" were much different from what you had the pH probably would be notably different. |
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- Posted by highwaygardener 5 (My Page) on Wed, Nov 9, 11 at 17:00
| Thanks everyone, great advice! @gonebananan...did you mean raising or lowering pH in the middle of your post from the CO2 reactions? Either way, thanks for the in depth explanation of decomposition. I'm glad we've had those six chickens! |
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- Posted by gonebananas 7/8 (My Page) on Wed, Nov 9, 11 at 17:19
| EDIT: "Additionally, the carbon dioxide produced from organic decomposition reacts with the calcium oxide and then calcium carbonate produced from the wood ash, LOWERING pH." |
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| Finished compost tends toward a neutral pH, even if wood ash or other forms of CaCo3 are added and even if the majority of the material are (shudder) Oak Leaves or pine needles. All leaves have a pH in the 3.0 to 4.8 range and all the compost I have made since the 1960's has been neutral of very close to 7.0 whether wood ash or other forms of CaCo3 have been added or not. Early on I had trouble with offensive odors, putrid because of too much moisture and ammonia like because of too much Nitrogen, until I learned those causes and corrected the problems, the learning curve. Because the nutrients in compost are not very readily available any test will show very low numbers and they will not be very accurate. The only real test of compost is if plants grow well when it is added to the growing medium. Wood ash and other forms of CaCo3 are not needed in the compost mix at all. |
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| In my experience, any well-decomposed compost will be pretty near neutral pH and safe to apply - the fact that it has decomposed is the best evidence. An NPK test might be re-assuring - it can't hurt - but a faster test would be to sprout an assortment of seeds in some potting mix and then water them with a tea made from the compost. If they don't thrive after a few weeks, reconsider spreading this where you are growing edible crops. If they die the next day, try giving it to someone who doesn't share your political opinions. |
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