[Terrapreta] Fwd: compost and charcoal

[Gerald Van Koeverden]

>
> Tom,
>
> Thanks for that link about the enhancing effect of charcoal on  
> compost by Japanese researchers.
>
> Looks like some revision of the accepted methods of making compost  
> might be in order.  The first site I went to on making compost  
> specifically advises avoiding charcoal in the compost pile!!
>
> http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/assistance/education/ 
> waste/composting.pdf
>
> The next two advised against using any charcoal ash.  By not saying  
> anything positive about using charcoal itself, the message conveyed  
> is negative towards using charcoal at all as a composting component.
>
> Gerrit
>
> On 24-Nov-07, at 6:33 PM, Tom Miles wrote:
>
>> See the presentation on charcoal mixed compost at the IAI  
>> conference by
>> Shuji Yoshizawa, Satoko Tanaka, Michio Ohata or
>> Meisei University and Shigeru Mineki, Tokyo University of Science.
>>
>> http://www.biochar-international.org/images/Yoshizawa_- 
>> _Charcoal_Composting_
>> of_Rice_Bran_Effect_on_Microorganisms.pdf
>>
>> One slide:
>> "Composting from mixture of charcoal and biomass waste (Charcoal  
>> Mixed
>> Compost, CMC)
>> Composts made from garbage generated by homes, restaurants and food
>> industries and livestock
>> waste, and its utilization is receiving attention from the  
>> viewpoint of
>> recycle of biomass wastes.
>>
>> As wood and bamboo have pores which are the size that are suitable  
>> for
>> microorganisms to support, by
>> adding the charcoal from the beginning of composting, the  
>> proliferation of
>> microorganisms will be enhanced."
>>
>> Their results were positive.
>>
>> Tom
>>
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org [mailto:terrapreta-
>>> bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Van Koeverden
>>> Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 10:42 AM
>>> To: terrapreta preta
>>> Subject: [Terrapreta] compost and charcoal
>>>
>>> We've had a lot of talk about the cost-benefit of applying charcoal
>>> to large acreages of land.  And also about using compost or  
>>> manure to
>>> enrich charcoal before applying it.
>>>
>>> What about adding charcoal to the compost pile at the beginning of
>>> the process?  Has anybody researched the value of adding charcoal to
>>> the biomass right at the beginning?  A lot of ammonia is released to
>>> the atmosphere during composting;  would charcoal act as a sponge to
>>> soak it up and hold it, along with mineral nutrients which are  
>>> easily
>>> susceptible to leaching?  In effect, if this is true, charcoal fines
>>> as part of the composting process would significantly add to the
>>> potential nutrient value of that compost.
>>>
>>> gerrit
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>