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Dummer Twp - Ontario

We have just excavated a swampy area for building development and the soil on the top is very dark and rich and quite fluffy. Has anyone used such soil before or am I wrong in thinking this would be great soil to use. we currently have some that is drying out in one of our gravel pits so access is quite easy. Please lend your thoughts, thanks

3/27/2007 3:10:39 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

It would be basically the same as peat....very rich in organic matter very low in nutrients. A good soil builder it would be as long as ammendments were added.

3/27/2007 3:35:25 PM

Ontario, Canada.

I would also test for pH. You may find it a bit alkaline.
We have at the Cornerstone yard used several hundred yards of swampy peaty soil in the Triple and Quad mix soils we sell and have found that it usually above 7.8. The CEC is always high so if you can mix it with some parent materials you may do ok with it.

Russ

3/27/2007 6:27:02 PM

Ohio

I have a place with this black dirt around my spring. Which would raise your ph more, this black humis or pete moss that you buy in the bag? If this back dirt does raise your ph a couple notches its not going to hurt that much because your organic matter will make up for that right?, or no? Would it be ok if your ph to be kinda high as long as your organic matter is high? Would this off set each other?

3/28/2007 5:10:25 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

hmmmm peat moss normally has a PH of 4.0 unless treated. so peat moss will actually lower your ph. Russ's may have an increase PH from the spring water carrying calcium deposits up.

3/28/2007 7:54:21 AM

southwest MO

Seems like weve gone full circle on the "will high ph water raise your soil ph." Something is raising the ph of kahuna5's swampy peat... Could it be carbonates??
I know trying to classify peats is a tricky thing, but interesting none the less.

3/28/2007 11:42:55 AM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

Great responses, keep em coming

3/28/2007 1:07:03 PM

western Kentucky

Personally before I added it I'd have a soil test done on it and see if adding it to my soil would be beneficial, it could depend on what is already lying around in your soil.. too much of a good thing is not always a good thing. Just figured this would be the safest bet... only my opinion ... Justin

3/28/2007 3:45:48 PM

Ontario, Canada.

You folks, have raised good points to which I neglected to consider. I was testing the finished triple mix component only and not the actual Muck Soil. I'm sorry for the confusion. The differences and high pH I've noted in our soil tests can be found most likely within the soil types we are mixing the Muck soil with.

I have found a reasonably good article written about Muck soil by the president of Agri-food labs in Ontario.

http://www.agtest.com/articles/organic_soils.htm

3/30/2007 8:23:56 PM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

Great article Russ, thanks

3/30/2007 10:07:17 PM