Subject: Re: Wood ash as a soil amendments

From: [email-masked] (Karl Olmstead)
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 1995 03:49:36 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] wrote:

> I'm looking for info on the use of bio-ash as a soil amendment, mainly
> from wood-fired co-generation plants. Any idea of the long-term risks
> to soil structure, chemistry and ecology? Any human health risks
> identified of concern? 
> 
> +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+
> |   Brian Baker, Technical Coordinator                |
> |   California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)       |
> |   1115 Mission St., Santa Cruz, CA  95060           |
> |   phone: 408-423-2263   fax: 408-423-4528           |
> |   [email-masked]      [email-masked]             |
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Perhaps the place to start would be getting an analysis for heavy metals. 
I would expect them to be concentrated in the ash.  Whether or not they're
present probably depends on the type of wood and where it grew.

And, as you probably know, addition of ashes to already alkaline soil
(most desert soils) is a mistake.  Here in the middle of the Mojave
desert, we put a lot of effort into reducing soil pH.

-- 
[email-masked]

Karl Olmstead; K&F Engineering
5121 W. Reeves Ave.
Ridgecrest, CA. 93555