_gonzo_

One benefit of akadama is that it assists in soil aeration. Without aeration beneficial microbe activity will cease. As the article states however, akadama can become quite expensive. For this reason I have been using Turface for several years since it does the same thing for much less money and can be (IMO) every bit as effective.

The article states that too much turface will hold harmful chemical salts (and probably chlorides) found in many ferts. In a broad sense, I would agree.

However, I simply elect not to use most ferts and the problem is solved.

I have been able to use turface at about 60% of my soil mix for several reasons (and years) as follows:

I use organic fertilizers with a high volume of humic acid, something like 15% to detoxify the soil of these very salts and chlorides. Beneficial bioactiviy is therefore not inhibited at all and plants (long-term) simply wail.

It’s all a matter of what you are willing to learn/understand.

Cheers,

_gonzo_