[Terrapreta] nitrogen fertility & terra preta

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi 'terrapreta' list,

It is our hope that Terra Preta formation proves to make soil "hold" nutrients better than it would without the charcoal.  Urea in urine can be a significant source of nitrogen.  Currently, what is the requirement for nitrogen addtions to soil which is cropped?  Doesn't this depend on the crop?  How much anhydrous ammonia is applied per hectare or acre on average to agricultural land?  At what cost? How much of this nitrogen fertilization can be retained in the soil by adding charcoal?  It is presumed that the mechanism for this is that charcoal enhances the growth of soil microorganisms and these are what "hold" the nitrogen in the soil.  Does the kind of soil microorganisms that will do this matter?  Do they need to be "nitrogen-fixing" (Actinobacteria) and etc?

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Edward Someus<mailto:edward at terrenum.net> 
  To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> ; David Yarrow<mailto:dyarrow at nycap.rr.com> 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 9:51 PM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] urine & terra preta


        This is an far more complex problem than to simplify the issue,  as modern age humans urine, containing residuals of medicine and other substances, which was not the case 2500 yr ago. 

        There might be similar contamination problem as for sewage water treatment, where endocrine disruptors, female hormons and medical residuals breaking through the water treatment system, enter subsurface water base and re-appear in water wells.  





        Sincerely yours: Edward Someus (environmental engineer)
        Terra Humana Clean Technology Engineering Ltd. 
        (ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified organization for scientific research, technical development and industrial performance engineering design of agro-biotechnological and pyrolysis methods, apparatus and applications) 

        ADDRESS: H-1222 Budapest, Szechenyi 59, Hungary
        TEL handy:  +(36-20) 201 7557
        TEL / FAX:   +(36-1) 424 0224
        TEL SKYPE phone via computer:  Edward Someus
        WEB:   www.terrenum.net <http://www.terrenum.net/>
        -------Original Message-------

        From: David Yarrow<mailto:dyarrow at nycap.rr.com>
        Date: 2007.10.16. 17:01:18
        To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
        Subject: [Terrapreta] urine & terra preta

        in trying to understand how the indigenous amazon tribes made terra preta, how about careful consideration of the value of urine as a fertilizer:
        http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071007_fertilizer-urine.htm<http://www.world-science.net/othernews/071007_fertilizer-urine.htm>

        in addition to its immediate fertility value, i suspect urine has special value as a microbial stimulant

        David Yarrow
        "If yer not forest, yer against us."
        Turtle EyeLand Sanctuary
        44 Gilligan Road, East Greenbush, NY 12061
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        www.SeaAgri.com<http://www.seaagri.com/>
         
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