[Terrapreta] Charcoal, volatiles, creosote

[Tom Miles]

Duane,

 

We heard last month that "wood vinegar" collected during carbonization is
sold in Japan for $6/liter to stimulate plant growth.

 

Wood Vinegar:

n : a red-brown liquid formed in distillation of wood which

         contains acetic acid, methanol, acetone, wood oils, and

         tars [syn: pyroligneous acid
<http://dict.die.net/pyroligneous%20acid/> ]

 

See: http://www.agnet.org/library/pt/2005025/pt2005025.pdf

Food & Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region (FFTC)

 

Also linked at:

http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/?q=fftcvinegar

 

Others can tell us what components of the pyroligneous acid are used by the
plants and organisms. 

 

Tom

 

 

From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Duane Pendergast
Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2007 11:06 AM
To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
Subject: [Terrapreta] Charcoal, volatiles, creosote

 

Dear colleagues,

 

Some information I sent to my brother from the list elicited the following
observation.

 

"I scraped the creosote from the woodstove chimney and inadvertently spilt
some on the lawn.  The grass went green and grew faster.  I wonder what the
affect was.  Wouldn't be nitrogen.  As mother used to say "put that in your
pipe and smoke it" "

 

I've noticed quite a bit of discussion of the significance of volatile
content and wonder if chimney creosote is mainly composed of volatiles
condensing there.  Would any experts care to follow our mother's advice and
let us know what is causing the creosote fertilization effect?

 

Sincerely,

 

Duane Pendergast

 

 

 

 

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