[Terrapreta] manure biochar N-P-K question

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Jon, Gerrit, et. al.,

I wonder what effect the "syrup" that had been filtered through the charcoal would have had on the microorganisms in that soil?
I think it is not surprising that you are advising care when reducing nitrogen-N on a corn crop.  Successful, subsidy garnering, corn crops are "highly" dependent on getting their next nitrogen fix, right Jon?  Corn farmers all over the Midwest will tell you, that if they cannot put down enough nitrogen-N fertilizer, then they might not as well of planted any corn at all.

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jon C. Frank<mailto:jon.frank at aglabs.com> 
  To: Terrapreta<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 3:58 PM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] manure biochar N-P-K question


  Hi Gerrit,

  I don't think the government was involved at all.  The only thing he spread was charcoal that had syrup filtered through it.  It was spread with a regular manure spreader.

  I agree with your thoughts on nitrogen.  Additionally the carbon could provide room and board to N-fixing bacteria and could possibly reduce the need even further.  But on corn I would be very careful reducing the N too far or it could lead to poor yield.

  Jon
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Gerald Van Koeverden [mailto:vnkvrdn at yahoo.ca]
    Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 3:00 PM
    To: Jon C. Frank
    Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] manure biochar N-P-K question


    Jon, 


    I'm curious how your client was able to spread this industrial waste on his soil.  Did he have to get some kind of governmental clearance first?  Or has this material been classified as safe for farmland?  I want to know just in case I can find similar waste here.  I would love to spread it on my land.


    Gerrit




    On 11-Sep-07, at 3:19 PM, Jon C. Frank wrote:


      One additional point.  We have a customer who has access to large quantities of charcoal powder that was used by industry as a filtration product for syrup.  This product has pyrogenic characteristics so is difficult to market.

      To prove a point at how effective it is in soil restoration he bought an extremely sandy field on the river bottom of the Mississippi River.  He applied 15-20 tons of this product per acre and plowed it into the soil.  He saw tremendous visual difference in the plants and in the root growth as compared to his neighbor with whom he shared part of the pivot for irrigation.  When looking at roots that encountered chunks of this charcoal powder the roots would explode with massive growth inside the chunk of charcoal powder.

      The conclusion of this farmer was that adding large quantities of charcoal powder increased the need for nitrogen on corn.  I suspect this might also be the case with biochar, at least in the first year after application.  I wonder if biochar made from manure would significantly slow the release of NPK as compared to using the manure fresh.  I believe so but have no data to back up my beliefs.  Kind of hard to get bio charred manure around our area. :)

      Jon C. Frank
      www.aglabs.com<http://www.aglabs.com/>

        -----Original Message-----
        From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org [mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org>]On Behalf Of Adriana Downie
        Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 5:55 PM
        To: 'James Oliver'; terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
        Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] manure biochar N-P-K question


        Hi James,


        It very much depends on the temperature and processing conditions. Generally the P and K will stay with the char, you will loose some nitrogen but if you keep the temperature below 400C you will keep a significant amount of it. The availability of the NPK in the char also changes significantly with process conditions. 


        Regards,


        Adriana Downie

        BEST Energies Australia


        -----Original Message-----
        From: James Oliver [mailto:jwogdn at yahoo.com<mailto:jwogdn at yahoo.com>] 
        Sent: Monday, 10 September 2007 11:16 PM
        To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
        Subject: [Terrapreta] manure biochar N-P-K question


        I have seen discussion of turning manure into biochar.  Is the N-P-K retained in the biochar if manure is used as feed stock?  


        JW



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