[Terrapreta] Terra Preta - not just about charcoal in soil

Mon Oct 1 14:27:52 EDT 2007

Sean and all-------Two points that are being discussed seem to fit  
into my experience.

First, It have been my observation, which I suspect is universal,  
that nature works from a position of abundance. This is a stark  
contrast from the agricultural practices locally used. Reduced  
biological diversity is the farmers goal it seems.

Just over sixteen years ago I began a wetland restoration project on  
an acre of degraded treed pasture land. Even the young Alder trees  
were extremely stressed or dead. Only the grasses and the shrubs seem  
healthy. As I saw it, the Alder trees did explain the problem for  
they are a weed (useful though) in Western Washington.

The stress was due to soil compaction during the wet season (October  
till June) and during the dry season when the weather condition are  
best described as droughty (given vegetational needs). Of course, the  
farm practices included year round pasturing of animals. The animal's  
hooves compacted the soil so that the Alder trees were unable to  
thrive. Likely, they suffered on the during the three month (or so)  
dry season.

When I started this restoration project, my main goal was to get as  
much organic matter, in as many forms as practical. In four years,  
these forms included band saw sawdust, planer shavings (150 cu yd),  
tub grindings (flail knife shredded material), hog knife cut tree  
prunings (1200 cu yd), round of wood between 10-20" in diameter  
(mostly hardwood), a small number of free stumps (butt cut up to 24"  
which were replanted with an excavator) and four years of clean  
landscape debris.

A considerable effort went into acquiring and placing or stockpiling  
this material around and into excavated vernal pools. Excavated  
material from the vernal pools was used adjacent to these pools as  
raised areas (drier growing areas). What I found very interesting was  
the effectiveness the band saw sawdust in damning 6-8" of water.

The influence of this amount of organic matter in reclaiming this wet  
pastureland was impressive early on and is still impressive. I have  
believed that abundance and variety is the key to restoration whether  
it be in the soil or above.

Secondly, I am currently experiencing nutritional deficiencies with  
some beet starts grown in commercially made unfertilized charcoal.  
The deficiencies were obvious after one month's growth. Some of these  
starts are in the ground now so that they can be harvested in the  
late spring. There may be a nitrogen shortage occurring. Something is  
happening that is totally different than the Webber made charcoal  
that set on the ground and fertilized for the greater portion of the  
year before being buried in a planting bed.

Thanks for the postings, much appreciated-------Larry

--------------------------------------
On Oct 1, 2007, at 9:48 AM, Sean K. Barry wrote:

> Hi Jon,
>
> How could charcoal lead to a nitrogen shortage (in soil is where I  
> presume you are speaking of)?  Can you suggest any ways to validate  
> this?  Can you suggest any ways to prevent this?
>
> Regards,
>
> SKB
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jon C. Frank
> To: Terrapreta
> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 11:09 AM
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Terra Preta - not just about charcoal in  
> soil
>
> Just adding charcoal may lead to a nitrogen shortage.
>
> Jon
> www.aglabs.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org [mailto:terrapreta- 
> bounces at bioenergylists.org]On Behalf Of Sean K. Barry
> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 10:12 AM
> To: Robert Flanagan; Kevin Chisholm
> Cc: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Terra Preta - not just about charcoal in  
> soil
>
> Hi Kevin, Robert,
>
> Good questions, Kevin!  Right on point as I see it.  I would maybe  
> add one more request, Robert.  4. Could we see if adding just  
> charcoal made from the stover on a plot continues to show soil with  
> "... a profound effect on plant development with no other soil  
> fertility program".  You must be careful that only charcoal made  
> from the wastes on the plot is used.  Adding more rice hull  
> charcoal, for instance, would add some fertilizing nutrients that  
> were taken from the soil that the rice grew in.  Adding new rice  
> hull charcoal would not show the benefits of charcoal alone in the  
> soil.
>
> As I see it, the contention in recent discussions has been that  
> charcoal made from the plant crop wastes alone (corn stover) on an  
> agricultural field, when applied to that field (alone, up to 10 or  
> 50 repeated times) is all that is required to increase or maintain  
> the soil fertility.  My reading is that this is NOT TRUE.  I do not  
> see that the nutrient content can be maintained, as each harvest of  
> the corn cobs will deplete the nutrients and the charred stover  
> will add nothing new beyond what was there when the crop sprouted.
>
> Adding anything else would not reveal the value of charcoal in the  
> soil.
>
> Regards,
>
> SKB
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