Always beware of salts in soil amendments. High salt content and high pH are common problems in Colorado soils. Therefore, avoid amendments that are high in salts or that have a high pH. Amendments high in salts and/or pH include wood ash, Colorado mountain peat and composted manures. An amendment with up to 10 mmhos/cm total salts is acceptable if well mixed into low-salt soils (less than 1 mmhos/cm). Amendments with a salt content greater than 10 mmhos/cm are questionable. Choose a low-salt amendment for soils testing high in salts.
Sphagnum peat and compost made from purely plant sources are low in salts and are good choices for amending Colorado soils. Ask for an analysis of the organic amendments that you are considering, and choose your amendments wisely. If no analysis is available, test a small amount of the amendment before purchasing a large quantity.
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