source of local peat is available at
low cost.
 Compost and manure are very
satisfactory as organic amend-
ments. Manure must be allowed to
decompose or "weather" so that
it will not burn or injure trees.
 Sawdust, wood chips and shav-
ings are inexpensive and readily
available in some sections of the
state. These materials are usually
weed free and have little effect on
soil acidity (pH). Their principal
disadvantage is that, as they de-
compose, nitrogen is temporarily
removed from the soil at the ex-
pense of plants. In decomposition,
soil micro-organisms obtain nitro-
gen from the soil, and if soil nitro-
gen supplies are low, plants may
suffer from nitrogen deficiency. To
avoid this problem, 2 to 3 pounds
of nitrogen must be added to the
soil for each cubic yard of sawdust,
wood shavings or wood chips in-
corporated.
 Organic soil amendments are not
long-lasting in Florida because of
rapid decomposition resulting from
high temperature and moisture
conditions. Inorganic soil amend-
ments with properties similar to
those of organic materials have


been developed and are widely used
for their long-lasting characteris-
tics.
 Vermiculite is similar to organic
matter in increasing water and nu-
trient holding capacities. This ma-
terial provides a longer lasting
benefit than organic materials, but
initially it is more expensive.
 Calcined clay and colloidal phos-
phate improve the fertilizer hold-
ing capacity of soils, but moisture
holding capacity is less than for
the materials just mentioned.
 Soil amendments must be thor-
oughly mixed into the soil to prop-
erly serve their purpose. To pre-
pare soil for transplanting trees:
 Keep topsoil and subsoil sepa-
 rate when digging hole for the
 tree.
 Mix equal parts of organic or
 inorganic s o i 1 amendments
 with topsoil. Subsoil may be
 discarded or used on top of the
 the ground to form a watering
 depression.
 To the mixture add 6-6-6 or
 8-8-8 (N-PO-IK2O) fertilizer
 at the rate of 11/4 ounces per
 bushel (11/2 cu. ft.) or 3 ounces
 per wheelbarrow (31/2 cu. ft.)
 or 11/2 pounds per cubic yard.


 Table 2.-Approximate measures of fertilizer materials

Material 1 pint 1 pound 1 ounce

Sulfur 3/4 lb. 1 1/3 pints 3 tablespoons
 or
6-6-6

Ammonium sulfate
Iron sulfate 1 lb. 1 pint 2 tablespoons
 or
Dolomitic limestone