[Terrapreta] manure biochar N-P-K question

[Brian Hans]

Nat, 
   
  This is exactly what Im talking about. As you stated...first the soil flora wins, always. Then the crop reaches homeostasis with the soil and we get what we get. Char, no char... sugar, no sugar. 
   
  I would contend that if one adds either sugar OR char OR both to try and increase yields...the above shows us that we absolutely need to add N (I would contend NPK+) or suffer the resulting yield meltdown. Sugar is as “poor” (actually low C/N) organic matter (eg sawdust) to our soil/crop    as one gets. 
   
  Brian Hans

Nat Tuivavalagi <ntuivavalagi at cmi.edu> wrote:
        v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}  .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}                Hi SKB,
   
  Thanks for sharing.
   
  I agree that competition between microorganism and plants is not usually obvious.  However, this competition could be readily seen when we add “poor” (actually low C/N) organic matter (eg sawdust) to our soil/crop.  Instead of becoming green and healthy, the crop actually becomes yellowish and sickly – as amount of N in soil/organic-matter is not adequate for both microorganism and crop.  Yes the microorganisms win (at least at the beginning).  However, the microorganisms will die out and the crop will benefit from these dead and decaying materials – hence the yellowish-ness is only temporary.
   
  Cheers
  Nat
   
   


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