[Terrapreta] Alkaline Soils test - Use of Charcoal + fortreatment

[Sean K. Barry]

Hello Dr. Sai Bhashkar Redding,

This looks like a very interesting project.  I'm fascinated by the plethora 
of living microbiological additives (inoculants) you will be using as soil 
amendments.  I have never seen soil microbiology was cultured or used like 
this before.  I've thought it would be interesting to do this sort of thing, 
with soil microbes as soil amendments, but your plan looks like a well 
studied and elaborate plan.  Did you take a census of the soil microbiology 
in the area in which you are applying the amendments or in other areas with 
more desirable soil characteristics?  How did you decide how much and what 
types of microbes to put into that soil in Kothur?

Are you using charcoal and other soil amendments in an attempt to rectify 
alkalinity in the soil?  I think an earlier post from you mentioned this was 
a problem in that area, Kothur.  I think you said, too, that there was some 
kind of tree which had propagated heavily in the area because the tree could 
withstand salt better?  (maybe I read about this after you mentioned the 
trees in a past post) Will you be using the charcoal made from the wood of 
these trees?  Will you be doing (or getting done by a lab) "proximate 
analysis" tests of the charcoal or measuring pH of it, before it is used in 
the soil amendments?  Will you be measuring or recording maximum 
temperatures a which the charcoal is made?

If the charcoal being put into the soil (sans ash?) is still higher pH and 
alkaline, will you be able to modify the other amendments to correct the pH 
to a livable level for the microbes?  Does the water wash neutralize the 
charcoal effectively?  Will the microbial activity or just the existence of 
SOM further neutralize the soil alkalinity?  Is there a target pH that you 
are trying to achieve with these soil amendments?

http://dacnet.nic.in/rbdcbangalore/index.asp <- That is an interesting 
website.  I'm widely impressed that the India government and the 
agricultural community there has such an organization. I would imagine that 
they will be exceptionally helpful in developing Neo Terra Preta.

Thank you, if you would answer any of my questions.  I'm sorry if they seem 
many.  I am immensely curious about this project just from reading the 
spreadsheet and your past posts.

Regards

SKB


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Miles" <tmiles at trmiles.com>
To: "'Saibhaskar Nakka'" <saibhaskarnakka at gmail.com>; 
<terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
Cc: "'adkarve'" <adkarve at pn2.vsnl.net.in>
Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2007 12:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Alkaline Soils test - Use of Charcoal + 
fortreatment


> Saibhaskar Nakka,
>
>
>
> I think this is a great project with a lot of potential and low risk. You
> are "off the page," beyond the direct experience, for most of us, so I
> wouldn't expect many experience-based recommendations from this end. We 
> are
> all going to be very interested in the outcome.
>
>
>
> I've posted the project and links on the Terra Preta website to see if we
> can draw in other contributors.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> Tom  Miles
>
>
>
>
>
> From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
> [mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Saibhaskar 
> Nakka
> Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 5:54 AM
> To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> Cc: adkarve
> Subject: [Terrapreta] Alkaline Soils test - Use of Charcoal + for 
> treatment
>
>
>
> Dear All,
>
> I am forwarding the link on the Alkaline Soils tested in Kothur Village,
> Mahabubnagar District, India, A draft plan on recommendations is prepared,
> requesting for suggestions in this regard. As the monsoons have arrived 
> the
> farmers are ready and making preparations, the sooner the recommendations
> the better.
>
>  <http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pxqBXdOJdD5a3dhB5Qm34fA>
> http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pxqBXdOJdD5a3dhB5Qm34fA
>
> Please also see the blog http://e-alkalinesoilsterrapreta.blogspot.com/ 
> for
> further details
>
>
> Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy
>
> > _______________________________________________
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