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Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

So how much percent organic matter is too much?

12/1/2009 7:57:18 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The age of organic matter is the hardest thing for most people to understand.

Over 20% is trouble in most cases. I had this place at 26% for a while but worms & bacteria have ended it.

12/1/2009 9:00:37 PM

West River

if it moves.........then OM might be a tad high.....lol

12/4/2009 1:33:08 PM

Colorado Springs, CO

The classic % of OM defining a well-balanced soil is 5%, and if 5% is maintained here in CO one is doing quite well. That % is taught by CSU in their extension service trainings, and it is found in many a text book too.

If at 5%, then the other %'s of distribution are 45% mineral content, 25% air and 25% water as being the total composition of substances occupying any cubic volume of garden soil that is the living and working root zone of what you are growing.

I can tell you that many a savvy CO gardener is likely in the 1% to 3% range. On a grand scale like that of the farmer maintaining 100's if not 1000's of acres the O.M. % is a challenge to fulfill. That's why they grow cover crops, till in the plant waste residue of the prior crop and spread aged manures.

For the home gardener that has 500sf pumpkin patch, or even smaller plots for other veggies, etc. it is VERY easy to have quantities of OM >5% with no ill effects at all.

Humates will keep the breakdown process of (any)OM active and their humic acids will convey ready-elements and gasses to and from the roots. Face it, CO soils are basically rubbish. We are a high plains desert east of the Front Range. The oceans receded 35m.y. ago....we don't get that much rain, and the vast verdant forest are.....where ?

12/6/2009 7:12:31 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Al Eaton suggested to our club that 8% is ideal, over that isn't a major problem but why over shoot. Lots of factors to consider- are you organicish? Compost tea can help dealing with OM but there are limits.

12/6/2009 9:28:28 PM