[compost_tea] Re: carbonization

From: Steve Scheuerell <compostscience_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 20:58:06 +0000
Hello all,
 
Pyrolosis is used to describe the break down of organic matter in the absence of oxygen, one example is the production of charcoal. When this happens to composting bark it is called pyrolized bark. It has been known for many years that pyrolized bark lacks the available carbon to support beneficial microbes for the biological control of root pathogens, for more info look up Dr. Hoitink's work. Regarding compost, one can split hairs over the part of the definition that states "total absence of oxygen", since some level of oxygen, albeit low levels, will be present in a very active pile. However, in composting when very low levels of oxygen occur with high temperatures, an accepted definition is pyrolisis, with the product being called pyrolized.
 
Steve Scheuerell

Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
click here


Yahoo! Groups Links

Received on Wed Dec 29 2004 - 17:18:27 EST

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Tue Feb 07 2012 - 14:15:40 EST