Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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No, diatomaceous earth, DE, is its own thing. It is not equivalent in any way to Akadama. Chemistry is different, origins are different.
Akadama is unique, a clay derived from volcanic rock, from the erosion of pumice, scoria, lava and possibly some basalt. Most clay in North America is has some eroded limestone in it's origin. Akadama and Kanuma are pretty much lime free. There are deposits in the Pacific Northwest of clay similar to Akadama, with similar chemistry, but cost prohibited for commercial production.
Turface is also not a replacement for Akadama. As the clays are very different in chemistry.
DE is the fossilized skeletons of fresh water diatoms. Mostly silica, with only moderate amount of calcium. The pore structure of DE is excellent for holding huge amounts of water relative to weight.
So each of these products behave differently in a mix, none are direct substitutes for the properties of Akadama. Not are they substitutes for each other.
But functionally, you can make perfectly acceptable mixes using these "alternative" products. Nothing wrong with them. Chemistry of each is unique, one should approach them as individual mixes. You modify your watering and fertilizer pattern for each of these mix components.
