Diatomite or Kitty Litter???

[Bretts]

Hey KC your a champ Pm sent!

8 is alkaline and that is pretty far out too. It is intresting as that is on the purasil page yet there is no mention of Ph on the Kleensorb information.
I found a level of 5.7ph in the miadenwel data sheet and also a lot less salt content.

“Maidenwell Diatomite” is a rich source of plant available silica which is widely documented to stimulate Self Acquired Resistance (SAR) in plants thereby increasing their resistance to disease. Maidenwell Diatomite consists of the skeletal remains of microscopic single cell aquatic plants known as diatoms. These small plants developed an opaline silicious shell like armour for protection, upon the death of these plants the fossil shells accumulated on the beds of these fresh water lakes and compacted into lightweight porous rock.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Colour....................................................................................White, cream to yellow
Moisture.................................................................................................Approx. 6%
Bulk Density............................................................................................Approx.0.4
pH ...........................................................................................….....................…5.7
EC (Electrical Conductivity)………..….(mS/cm) = 0.05 – Little to no salt content

TOTAL ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS

Category Element Results: Comments


Major Elements % Nitrogen (N) 0.013 low
Phosphorous (P) 0.083 low
Potassium (K) 0.087 low
Minor Elements % Calcium (Ca) 0.014 low
Magnesium (Mg) 0.185 some magnesium present
Sulphur (S) 0.0030 low
Sodium (Na) 0.092 good – low sodium salts
Chloride (Cl) 0.0012 good – low chloride salt

Trace Elements mg/kg Iron (Fe) 31100 very good iron content
Manganese (Mn) 19 low
Zinc (Zn) 110 OK can be of some use in agriculture
Copper (Cu) 8.2 low
Boron (B) 0.85 low
Molybdenum (Mo) 1.7 low

Heavy Metals mg/kg Arsenic (As) 4.6 low – good
Cadmium (Cd) <0.5 below detection limits – good
Cobalt (Co) 5.8 low – good
Chromium (Cr) 7.1 low – good
Lead (Pb) 7.4 low – good
Mercury (Hg) <0.2 below detection limits – good
Selenium (Se) 0.61 good
Nickel (Ni) 9.9 good
Silver (Ag) <0.5 below detection limits – good

Iron and silica levels are quite good and should make a positive contribution to plant nutrition. Both total and water soluble silica levels are very good, making this product a suitable growing media. There are no heavy metal contaminant concerns with the use of this product.

[Jamie]

i was going to say a ph of 8 is alkaline..

Tman a ph of 4.5 in your soil is very acidic, how do you go growing trees in it?

jamie

[kcpoole]

i was going to say a ph of 8 is alkaline..

Tman a ph of 4.5 in your soil is very acidic, how do you go growing trees in it?

jamie

ah well I failed Chemistry at skool 35 years ago

Had it arse around, but either way my Azaleas Dont seem to mind

Bretts
Yes it was on th Plurasil page, but they mention that if you want to have a ph 8.+ to use Kleensorb

Ken

[Bretts]

Yep I noticed that but thinking it was strange to be so high I started googling to see if I could find the ph of kleensorb anywhere else and the PH value is not to be found on any info about kleensorb. Made me wonder if they don't want to advertise it in asociation with it?
Might be worth trying some azalea food(bring the ph down) on the kleensorb and see what happens.

[Gareth]

I have heard of phosphoric acid being used as well.

Perhaps even Humic/fluvic/tannic acids will work too, they certainly work in Aquariums to bring pH down, cant see why it wouldnt work with soil, and add the things we want as well, rather then loading up the soil with phosphorus from phosphoric acid, especially for plants that dont like phosphoruis or if you dont want to mees with your fert regime too much.

Gareth