[Terrapreta] volatile matter and char

[Richard Haard]

I keep going back to Dr. Ogawa's view that charcoal in the soil is a  
selective enrichment for beneficial organisms in that it excludes  
saprophytic organisms (ie no fermentable carbon source) and  otherwise  
improves soils much like organic matter. In the context of volatile  
matter here is the vm he cited on charcoal he claims has the following  
effects

Rich



Charcoal Characteristics and Uses Characteristics and Function of  
Charcoal
From: Makoto Ogawa, Effects of Soil Microbial Fertility by Charcoal in  
Soil
1.Porous substance with high water and air holding capacity; Suitable  
habitat for some microbes and plant growth, good material for soil  
amendment, absorption of chemicals and humidity control
2.High alkalinity; Neutralization of acidic soil and improvement of  
chemical components of soil and selection of microorganisms
3.Non organic matter ; Exclusion of saprophytes and propagation of  
autotrophic and symbiotic microorganisms, free living nitrogen fixing  
bacteria, root nodule bacteria, Frankia and some mycorrhizal fungi
4.Low mineral content ; “Charcoal has no role as a fertilizer”
Composition of bark charcoal %
Carbon:77.58,
Volatile matter:12.92,
Ash: 9.50
Mineral content of ash %
SiO2:36.5
Al2O3:10.9
CaO:19.2
K2O:1.1
Na2O3:5.35
Fe2O3:7.5
MgO:10.3
P2O5:1.7
# Air supply by charcoal induces the activation of soil microbes and  
CO2 emission temporally. Small amounts of chemical fertilizers or  
organic matter should be mixed with charcoal in agricultural use.
soil application of charcoal to provide a microhabitat for AM fungi to  
colonize and survive.
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