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

[Jon C. Frank]

The reason I mentioned nitrogen deficiency is because that is what the
farmer observed and told us when he used charcoal.  We can learn a lot form
people who observe nature.

How can charcoal lead to an N deficiency?  Not 100% on that but I suspect
the soil is always trying to come to an equilibrium point in regards to
Carbon vs. Nitrogen and by adding more carbon the soil needs more nitrogen
to reach the equilibrium point.  Just my theory.  No Sean I won't waste my
time trying to validate or invalidate the theory.

To validate all you need to do is look for a nitrogen deficiency.  Further
validation may come from analyzing tissue for nitrogen.  The easiest way to
do that is to use a field meter such as:
http://www.specmeters.com/Chlorophyll_Meters/Minolta_SPAD_502_Meter.html

To prevent this N deficiency put on more nitrogen when using charcoal.  Not
a politically correct answer but it is a great answer when you are a
consultant and people depend on you to make help them get a good crop.

Jon
  -----Original Message-----
  From: Sean K. Barry [mailto:sean.barry at juno.com]
  Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 11:49 AM
  To: Terrapreta; Jon C. Frank
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Terra Preta - not just about charcoal in soil


  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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