[compost_tea] Re: Biochar revolution, Compost, AACT's and your thoughts...

From: skyjs <skyjs_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 02 Oct 2011 03:32:27 -0000

Biochar also makes sure that there is enough oxygen in the soil for root ga=
s transfer to work, it helps drainage, and therefore makes sure that in rai=
ny, heavy clay soils like we have that the microbes can live long enough to=
 repeat their cycles, and therefore do what they naturally want to do.
John S
PDX OR

--- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "robert a" <bangstrom_at_...> wrote:
>
> --- In compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com, "cpp_rj" <cpp_rj_at_> wrote:
> >
> > Alright, so what would be the difference of adding biochar to compost. =
  
>
> Compost is biodegradable and a source of nitrogen but it has a half life =
in the soil of about four years and often much less so compost is quickly g=
one and constantly needs to be replenished. Biochar is sterile and lacks ni=
trogen but it has a half life of about a thousand years so biochar is essen=
tially permanent and the soil levels increase with every application. There=
 is no need to inoculate biochar since it is impossible to keep it sterile.=
 Charcoal is simply a non-nutritive soil amendment much like vermiculite in=
 that it helps poor soils retain moisture and nutrients including nitrogen.=
 Biochar also increases the benefits of compost so the two work together e=
xcept that they both depend on biomass as a source.
>
> There is a dark soil frequently found in the Amazon called "terra preta" =
and archaeologists noticed that it contains bits of charred bones and potte=
ry fragments indicating that it is not of natural origin. Terra preta is a =
nutrient rich soil found in the same area side by side with a nutrient poor=
 soil known as "oxisol" and the difference between the two soils is that th=
e terra preta was amended with biochar centuries ago. The cost of biochar d=
epends upon what one is willing to pay for it and how much and how fast the=
y want it. The pre-Columbian Indians made biochar from field waste and garb=
age and the soils they amended with biochar are now mined in parts of Brazi=
l and sold as potting soil. That is how long it lasts while compost is quic=
kly gone.
>




Received on Sat Oct 01 2011 - 23:38:33 EDT

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