[Terrapreta] compost and charcoal

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear David

I think you are "bang on" with your emphasis of the importance of 
microbial action in soils. I think that their importance is grossly 
under-appreciated. Additionally, fungus is very important, particularly 
in assisting phosphorous uptake by plants.

 From what I can see, the "chemical agriculture" and "organic 
agriculture" people are trying to impose their thoughts on the "soil 
mechanics" who actually get the job done. Mother Nature has her way of 
doing things, and our best strategy is to be supportive of Her way of 
doing things.

Best wishes,

Kevin

dyarrow at nycap.rr.com wrote:
> when the research is all done and written, i expect the judgment will be
> that it is not char that reduces NOx emissions, but microbials.  char
> provides habitat and housing for microbes that process and stabilize
> soil N into non-volatile forms, and char is mostly passive in this
> process.  complex, interactive communities of microbes proliferate
> within the char's spongy matrix, and this explosion of living biomass is
> where the real action is.  char's main contribution to this NOx emission
> reduction is to absorb and hold the various N ions in the C matrix
> rather than allowing the N compounds to dissolve and leach away.
>
> david
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Kevin Chisholm <kchisholm at ca.inter.net>
> Date: Sunday, November 25, 2007 0:50 am
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] compost and charcoal
> To: Gerald Van Koeverden <vnkvrdn at yahoo.ca>
>   
>> Dear Gerrit
>>
>> This sounds to me like a great idea, with no downside.
>>
>> I have seen references to the fact that char reduces soil NO2 
>> emissions. 
>> It might do this by adsorption of teh NO2, or it might help create 
>> different "soil mechanics" that result in retention of the NO2 as NO4.
>>
>> Additionally, there might be a significant absorption of what would 
>> otherwise be "manure tea", that might leach away.
>>
>> Please keep us posted on anything else you might find.
>>
>> Best wishes,
>>
>> Kevin
>>     
>
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