We have been adding biochar to our plot for the last 3 years as a means of =
improving the water retention, and it really does work!
We use a barrel within a barrel to burn kiln dried waste wood trimmings, wh=
ich would normally go into the landfill. The inner barrel has fine holes wh=
ich reduces the transfer of oxygen, producing super charcoal. Broken fine a=
nd incorporated into the plot the growth of plants is quite remarkable, cer=
tainly better under drought conditions.
--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "robert a" <bangstrom_at_...> wrote:
>
> Biochar is incompletely burned biomass that is added to the soil as a soi=
l amendment. The advantage of adding carbon to the soil as charcoal is that=
charcoal has a half life in the soil of about a thousand years so the bene=
ficial effects of moisture retention and improved soil structure are long l=
asting and increase with every application. Much of soil in the Amazon basi=
n appears to artificial and still benefiting from the pre-Columbian use of =
biochar.
>
> I tried adding home-made biochar to my garden last spring but it will pro=
bably be a few years before I accumulate enough charcoal in the soil to be =
of much benefit.
>
> http://www.agrinews.com/biochar/research/rooted/in/ancient/history/story-=
2745.html
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochar
>
> http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/ancient-skills-co=
uld-reverse-global-warming-1055700.html
>
Received on Sun Sep 11 2011 - 12:19:21 EDT