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

[Frank Teuton]

I think this is basically wrong:

"dumping cooked, sterile char on any ecosystem will throw the C/N ratio way over to C.  a microbial and molecular scramble results as nature moves the intruded mass of C toward an equilibrium with N and the rest."

The whole point of adding char is that char is biologically unavailable C. No C scramble should occur. To the extent that there is an immediate short term effect we should look at things like ash content in the char.

Systems with char added should have much higher C:N ratios than systems without char, this is one of the central points of C sequestration via terra preta.

http://a-c-s.confex.com/a-c-s/2007am/techprogram/P34577.HTM

" In all but the Cone Pond watershed, C/N was positively and linearly related to C content. For these nine watersheds, the average C/N = 9.7 + 0.029 X C g/kg, R2 = 0.98. Ratios at Cone were much higher than would be predicted from the other data and charcoal was found in numerous samples, suggesting a source of recalcitrant C."



But I agree with this:

"we can cut the time for this assimilation and redistribution to occur by inoculating and incubating the char before it is broadcast into soil."

I imagine that powdered char can be added to compost tea successfully. Either the traditional mildly anaerobic teas, or the new highly aerated teas of controversy. Those wishing for aerobicity and rapid transition from application to cropping could make an aerated tea without nutrient additions until one hour before application to stay within the organic regulations. The use of nutrients like fish emulsion and/or molasses would also coat the char particles making them more attractive to soil organisms like earthworms for subsequent bio-incorporation.

My partner in grime, Stefan Sobkowiak, suggests that the idea of the char particle as a coral reef analog, ie, habitat, is the one he finds most compelling. It could be that the N shortages after large scale char applications are the result, not of a C scramble, but of organisms withdrawing from high predation rate habitats into relatively lower predation rate char habitats. This might slow N cycling enough to account for the observed effect.

An additional point, N fixing bacteria are no free lunch. They work their N fixing magic at the cost of consuming C (bio-energetic C) rich substrate.

My two cents, 

Frank Teuton


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Yarrow 
  To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 9:35 PM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Terra Preta - not just about charcoal in soil


  yes, a biological ecosystem will seek a carbon-nitrogen equilibrium.  both C & N are used in biological architecture and energy exchange, most fundamentally to create amino acids, and thence proteins, enzymes, DNA.

  dumping cooked, sterile char on any ecosystem will throw the C/N ratio way over to C.  a microbial and molecular scramble results as nature moves the intruded mass of C toward an equilibrium with N and the rest.

  in particular, most of the N that the char soaks up is digested, assimilated and organized into microbial protoplasm of bacteria and fungi that take up residence in the char micropores.  much of this is N in its highest forms -- amino acids, proteins, enzymes, hormones, membranes, DNA -- living cellular biomass, not inert rotting organic matter.   the first year or two after new char is added to soil, a lot of mineral N will disappear into organic N built into biomolecules in living cellular protoplasm.

  even if we add N to the char -- either by making char from manure, or blending N in after char is cooked --  a lag will still occur before N is fully available.  the inertias and cycles of feeding, growth, replication, distribution, and diversification mean it takes time -- a few months -- for biology to digest and re-organize all the chemistry left (and added) after the fire of pyrolysis dies.  not only to grow a critical biomass of microbes, but to develop the complex independent diversified stable community required for single cells to suvive.

  we can cut the time for this assimilation and redistribution to occur by inoculating and incubating the char before it is broadcast into soil.

  one critical goal of this microbiology is to encourage N-fixing bacteria to blossom in this burgeoning microbial community.  the more microbes there are sequestering N out of air into soil, the faster protein synthesis can occur.  it is clear certain trace elements -- especially cobalt & molybdenum -- are often the limiting factor in the proliferation of N-fixing bacteria and their specialized enzymes.

  i recommend sea minerals, seawater, seaweed, sea vegetables and sea salt as ideal full spectrum mineral & trace element sources.  good for your blood, good for your body, good for your soil.

  my two cents.

  David Yarrow
  "If yer not forest, yer against us."
  Turtle EyeLand Sanctuary
  44 Gilligan Road, East Greenbush, NY 12061
  dyarrow at nycap.rr.com
  www.championtrees.org
  www.OnondagaLakePeaceFestival.org
  www.citizenre.com/dyarrow/
  www.farmandfood.org
  www.SeaAgri.com
   
  "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, 
  if one only remembers to turn on the light."  
  -Albus Dumbledore
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Jon C. Frank 
    To: Terrapreta 
    Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 6:26 PM
    Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Terra Preta - not just about charcoal in soil


    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

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