DAVID . . . Thanks for asking. I know vermiculite well, and this stuff is Styrofoam. Plus, I'm biting into a piece of it right now, and it tastes just like the Styrofoam used in packing materials. (Ptoooii.)
I found numerous references via Google that talk about "potting soil" and "Styrofoam." Best wishes, BILL ======== >Bill, > >Are you sure it is styrofoam and not vermiculite? They are similar >in appearance at the macroscopic level. > >David > >David M Bryant Ph D >University of New Hampshire >Environmental Education Program >Durham, NH 03824 > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >978-356-1928 > > > >On Jan 23, 2006, at 4:57 PM, RESEARCH Hilton Pond wrote: > >> >>I've just discarded (i.e., placed in a compost pile) several >>Poinsettias left over from the holidays. All these came from >>different sources, but all had small (1/8 to 1/4/ inch) pellets of >>Styrofoam mixed in with the soil. >> >>These Styrofoam additives are a pretty common practice at >>commercial nurseries. I always assumed it was to aerate the soil so >>it didn't get too soggy. >> >>Wonder how this practice got started at nurseries and what it would >>take to get them to stop? >> >>Happy Nature Watching! >> >>BILL >> >>=========== >> >>>Warren, >>> >>>I've read this thread with some consternation as a soil scientist. >>>I know this may sound like recycling of styrofoam but it's really >>>putting xenobiotics (highly recalcitrant synthetics) into the >>>soil. I'm not really sure if it would meet your other goal >>>either. While quantitatively decreasing soil bulk density, as >>>does soil organic matter (SOM) I doubt that it provides any of the >>>other benefits of SOM. Styrofoam is a closed cell material, so >>>even with a high surface area (internally and externally) I doubt >>>that soil solution or nutrients can interact with these surfaces >>>to provide cation/anion exchange or enhance soil aeration as the >>>cells are generally filled with a synthetic gas (previously these >>>were CFCs). >>> >>>Also, there is increasing evidence that plastics release synthetic >>>compounds, the effects of some are known others unknown. >>>Moreover, organic chemistry of the SOM and plastics degradation >>>are not well understood. >>> >>>If you have any data or literature on these questions I would be >>>very interested. In lieu of any evidence of benefits/hazards I >>>would strongly advise against the practice. >>> >>>David >>> >>>David M Bryant Ph D >>>University of New Hampshire >>>Environmental Education Program >>>Durham, NH 03824 >>> >>>[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>978-356-1928 >>> >>> >>> >>>On Jan 23, 2006, at 2:44 PM, Warren W. Aney wrote: >>> >>>> I hope to solve two problems: >>>> --recycling of styrofoam >>>> --improving the texture of of high clay content soils >>>> >>>> Warren Aney >>>> (503)246-8613 >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: Wayne Tyson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> Sent: Sunday, 22 January, 2006 22:51 >>>> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected] >>>> Subject: Re: Birds and styrofoam pellets >>>> >>>> >>>> What do you hope to accomplish, and what led you to do it? >>>> >>>> WT >>>> >>>> At 01:21 PM 1/22/2006, Warren W. Aney wrote: >>>> >>>> I have been using small (<5 mm) styrofoam pellets as a soil >>>>additive. >>>> Since >>>> they tend to accumulate on the soil surface, these whitish >>>>pellets might >>>> easily be ingested by ground foraging birds. I've done a >>>>quick Google >>>> search and found little information indicating whether or not this >>>> material >>>> might be ingested or, if ingested, that it will have adverse effects. >>>> Does >>>> anyone have any information regarding this? >>>> >>>> Warren Aney >>>> (503)246-8613 -- RESEARCH PROGRAM c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History 1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA [EMAIL PROTECTED], (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845 Please visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net): Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History at http://www.hiltonpond.org "Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project" at http://www.rubythroat.org **********
