[Terrapreta] Charcoal is hydrophobic

[Brian Hans]

All the reseach i have read says it holds water. 
   
  So have I, yet there is it. Im not saying I am sure one way or another... Im just offering some concepts here that dont add up. I wonder if someone specifically has examined this like the turf ppl did for humic? 
   
  Let me add some more reasons I question the status quo;
   
  Activated carbon is hydrophobic. ' Due to the mainly hydrophobic surface properties, activated carbon adsorbs preferably organic substances and other non-polar compounds from the gaseous and liquid phase '.
   
  If humic is hydrophobic and activated carbon is hydrophobic, Im curious why I should think charcoal (TP) is hydrophobic?
   
  Another comment would be this... If I were to add a whole bunch of oil to my soil, I wouldnt expect that oil to hold water. Remember the saying 'oil and water dont mix'.
   
  Just to see what would happen, thismorning after I wrote the initial thread I threw a bunch of horticultural grade charcoal into a glass of water... Its still floating almost 2 hrs later. 
   
  If something has a high CEC rate, how can it also be hydrophilic? 
   
  I can show you research on the Australian Equivalent of Leoardite (zeolite) which contradicts this research. 
   
  Great. Lets see it. I'll wait...
   
  Regardless, zeolite is not charcoal or humic acid, but a non-carbon mineral.  
   
  Certainly the results of adding charcoal/humic to the soil could have some other effect to the soil to add hydrophilicy in other ways (like maybe more biota). But the stuff itself, is hydrophobic. 
   
  Brian Hans
  


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