Editing Chestnut (section)

==== Soil requirements ====
''Castanea'' grows best in a soil with good [[Drainage system (agriculture)|drainage]] and adequate moisture.<ref name="laren60" /><ref name="delmarvelous" /> The tree prefers sloping, deep soils; it does not like shallow or heavy soils with impermeable, [[clay]] [[subsoil]]s.<ref name="laren60" /> The Chinese chestnut prefers a fertile, well-drained soil, but it grows well in fairly dry, rocky, or poor soils.<ref name="Kentuckyforestry">[http://www.forestry.ky.gov/programs/reforestation/Tree+Species+Information.htm Kentucky Division of Forestry] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820025958/http://www.forestry.ky.gov/programs/reforestation/Tree%2BSpecies%2BInformation.htm|date=August 20, 2008}}.</ref>

Although ''Castanea'' can grow in very [[acidic]] soil,<ref name="pfaf" /> and while these soils are reasonably well tolerated, the preferred range is from pH 5.5-6.0.<ref name="laren60" /> It does not grow well on [[Alkaline#Alkaline soil|alkaline soils]], such as [[chalk]],<ref name="rhs" /><ref name="pfaf" /> but thrives on soils such as those derived from [[granite]], [[sandstone]], or [[schist]].<ref name="rhs" /> On alkaline soils, chestnut trees can be grown by [[grafting]] them onto [[oak]] rootstocks.<ref name="edlin" /> <br> Recently cleared land is best avoided to help resist the [[root rot]], ''Armillaria mellia''.<ref name="laren60" />