[Terrapreta] The Humphrey Pump Connection?

[Jeff Davis]

Dear Charcoal Makers,



I write this e-mail as a question but it’s more food for thought.

Is it possible that some tar and or condensates could be helpful to plants?

[I am making a POSSIBLE connection between the irrigated plants and the
use of the Humphrey Pump.]

The Humphrey Pump was a liquid piston engine that pumped a quarter of a
million gallons of irrigation water per hour. It was fueled by producer
gas and I have offended wondered if tar could have contaminated the water
that was pumped on to the land. I’m sure this would be a very small
fraction, if any.

If we knew how vibrant the irrigated plants were when the Humphrey Pump
was in use, as compared with when it was decommissioned, this MIGHT give
us a clue to how the tar/condensates affect plant growth.

I know, even if we had records of the plant growth at this site, there are
still too many other variables.



Just some food for thought BEFORE everybody evacuates this fine list,


Jeff




   **********************************************************

Kevin wrote:
> I reviewed the two postings you made to the Terra Preta List since its
> inception, and I wonder if perhaps you comment on the following point
> before you leave?
>
> Michael J. Antal, Jr. wrote:
>  > Dear friends: the VM content of cellulose is about 90% but it does not
>  > dissolve in terpentine.  Need I say more?  Michael.
>
> Would not the VM components in Charcoal most likely be tars, and
> products of decomposition of cellulose, rather than cellulose?
>
> Would tars and and the decomposition products of cellulose that are
> found in charcoal be soluble in turpentine?
>
> Do you know of any other common solvents that could be used to dissolve
> tars resulting in he charcoal making process, or able to dissolve other
> cellulose decomposition products that one might expect to find in
> charcoal that contained volatiles?





-- 
Jeff Davis

Some where 20 miles south of Lake Erie, USA