[Terrapreta] manure biochar N-P-K question

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Brian,

Sugar alone can bloom the soil micro-flora.  There is a lab test, used by soil science researchers that makes use of this.  It increases soil "respiration" rates, which is an indication of increased living microorganism activity.  Dr. A.D. Karve (in this group), from India, has claimed that this is very important.  Even to the point where "sugar" is the sole amendment, no fertilizers required.  But, sugar with charcoal?  Now that could be a different, perhaps more long-lived, effect than charcoal alone.  Maybe the charcoal can buffer the soil pH, increasing Cation Exchange Capacity?  Maybe the carbon in the charcoal can catalyze the decomposition of organic matter into plant available nutrients?  Maybe the porous nature of the charcoal holds more water and provides a "safe haven" for soil microorganisms to grow into and stay, set up shop as it were, etc?

These are all, I believe, very "fertile groud" (pun intended) for Terra Preta research.  It does look promising, so far.  So, we just need to get more people excited about doing this kind of research.

Regards,

SKB

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Brian Hans<mailto:bhans at earthmimic.com> 
  To: Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 5:00 PM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] manure biochar N-P-K question


  Sugar is the energy currency of soil flora. This makes sense because autotrophs utilize the sun and ofc...its dark down there so its not like they can fix their own energy from the sun. I would also suspect what PurNrg is implying...that residual sugars increase soil flora but only as a temp. shot in the arm. This is only a short term shot and not a long term affect. 

  Brian Hans 

  PurNrg at aol.com wrote:

    In a message dated 9/11/07 5:07:24 PM, jon.frank at aglabs.com writes:



      The only thing he spread was charcoal that had syrup filtered through it.



    This would lead me to wonder whether there was not a lot of residual sugar in the charcoal from said syrup, which would definitely be a different thing than JUST charcoal. As we've read earlier in this discussion, the sugar promotes a massive, temporary bloom all all sorts of soil critters. This bloom and it's associated activities could well be responsible for using up easily available soil nutrients, making them less available to plants in an immediate sense. Then, when the sugar has been consumed, there is the die off of many of the extra critters and their decomposition releases all those nutrients again in a form readily available to the plants.

    Peter :-)>


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