What is Dolomite

What is Dolomite and clubroot?

Peggy from Organic Growing Pains left me a comment on my last post asking about Dolomite and it's relation to Club root in Brassicas.

So I thought I'd make a post about it and do the best I can to answer.

I might try point form and see how that works.

Dolomite

• Dolomite is not a fertilizer.
• Dolomite is a form of lime
  
• Dolomite is Calcium magnesium carbonate.
• It raises pH and supplies calcium and magnesium
  
• Dolomite is a soil unlocker and will even help improve clay soils.
• Use Dolomite only if you have acid and you need to sweeten it.
• It is slow acting and won't react with any old manures or organic matter.

Clubroot

• Clubroot affects Brassicas, including radish, seakale, swede and turnip.
• Clubroot is a fungal disease
  
• Clubroot is a soil borne slime mould, Plasmodiophora brassicae
• Clubroot is usually introduced to the garden in soil that adheres to boots, tools, and wheelbarrows, in garden compost or manure, and directly on infected plants.
• It is most common in soil that is acid and waterlogged.

Clubroot Symptoms

• Swollen roots and a distorted root system not to be confused with symptons of root knot nematode attack, which are smaller lumps more evenly distributed along the roots
• Plants affected grow very slowly and wilt quickly on hot days.
• They may eventually collapse altogether

Controlling Clubroot

• Improve drainage and add lime/dolomite at recommended rates.
  
• Raise your own plants or use resistant plant varieties.
  
• Maintain good weed control as some weeds can carry clubroot
• Practice good crop rotation.

Hope that helps Peggy.

This is by no means a definitive work, if anyone has anything to add then please leave a comment.