[Terrapreta] To compost or not; and some other points

[Frank Teuton]

I think charcoal fits perfectly under the present rule, under 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NOP/standards/ProdHandReg.html
§ 205.203 Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standard.

(d) A producer may manage crop nutrients and soil fertility to maintain or improve soil organic matter content in a manner that does not contribute to contamination of crops, soil, or water by plant nutrients, pathogenic organisms, heavy metals, or residues of prohibited substances by applying:

4) Ash obtained from the burning of a plant or animal material, except as prohibited in paragraph (e) of this section: Provided, That, the material burned has not been treated or combined with a prohibited substance or the ash is not included on the National List of nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use in organic crop production;



So, charcoal would be allowed, provided it isn't made from contaminated source materials. Do other people have different interpretations, especially those emanating from certification organizations or other similar authorities?

Frank Teuton---thinking char would fit as a form of ash under the present rule, since most ash contains charcoal in any case



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sean K. Barry 
  To: Frank Teuton 
  Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 2:52 AM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] To compost or not; and some other points


  Hi Frank,

  This sounds like something out of the "USDA National Organic Rules Summary".  Where do you think charcoal would ever fit into that guideline?
  What would it take to get charcoal onto the "National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances" as an allowed substance in that standards document?

  Regards,

  Sean K. Barry
  Principal Engineer/Owner
  Troposphere Energy, LLC
  11170 142nd St. N.
  Stillwater, MN 55082
  (651) 351-0711 (Home/Fax)
  (651) 285-0904 (Cell)
  sean.barry at juno.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Frank Teuton 
    To: Janice Thies ; Kevin Chisholm 
    Cc: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org 
    Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 12:12 AM
    Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] To compost or not; and some other points


    Just to add one more point: to compost manures sufficiently to meet USDA Organic requirements requires only that the initial C:N ratio be between 25:1 and 40:1, and that the material is heated hot enough for long enough to meet PFRP (Process to Further Reduce Pathogens) standards used in sewage treatment composting.

    You can compost in vessel or static pile, where the entire mass of the materials reaches 131 F for three full days...or you can compost in a windrow, turning five times in 15 days with temps reaching 131 F after each turning of the pile. Such material is considered safe, but anyone with any experience in the matter will tell you...it isn't yet compost! However, it is safer than fresh manure and this speeds up considerably the time between application and potential harvest, as there are no restrictions on such materials once heated per regulations. Different crops will appreciate such fresh residues more, and others less...YMMV

    For best weed seed destruction 145 F is a better target temperature ( and no, it won't kill every kind of seed, black medic seed can take up to 180F...nature has a bell curve of diversity here as elsewhere.)

    Hope this helps someone,

    Frank Teuton



    ---- Original Message ----- 
    From: Janice Thies To: Frank Teuton ; Kevin Chisholm 
      Cc: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org 
      Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 2:12 PM
      Subject: Re: To compost or not; and some other points


      Many thanks to you, Frank, for your very detailed explanations and additions to the previous messages.  I had meant to mention reducing/destroying pathogens and weed seeds as an important function of thermogenic composting and am very glad to see that you made this important point in your reply, along with being aware of the withholding period for vegetables to which manures (composted or uncomposted) are applied.

      Kind regards,

      Janice
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