[Terrapreta] eprida char - organic?

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Gerrit

Gerald Van Koeverden wrote:
> I never could understand (nor accept) the "organic" distinction 
> between "natural" and "synthetic" nitrogen.   The nitrogen in the air 
> is no less natural than that which is found in manure...
>
> It would be truly ironic if organic farmers could not directly benefit 
> from Eprida's innovation.

I see your point, and it is chemically and logically correct. However, 
from what I can see, the problem with "chemical farming" that "organic 
gardening" seeks to overcome is care of the soil by rigorously trying to 
exclude "silver bullet", "one factor treatment" situations. Adding the 
same amount of nitrate in the form of "chemical NH3" has a  lesser 
benefit to the soil than if it was added as manure. As manure, there are 
other fertilizer components, hormones, trace elements,  organic 
materials, proteins, bacteria, etc.

Best wishes,

Kevin
>
> Gerrit
>
> On 14-Jan-08, at 11:11 AM, Frank Teuton wrote:
>
>> The organic standards generally accepted globally forbid the use of 
>> synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. To the extent that a nitrogenized char 
>> soil amendment might be accepted at all, it would need to be charged 
>> with nitrogen of natural origin.
>>  
>> Some possible ways of achieving this include:
>>  
>> Char in compost where the composting process is managed to release 
>> some ammoniacal N and the char is placed to adsorb it;
>>  
>> Char as part of a biofiltration process where N is scrubbed out of 
>> compost gasses into the char
>>  
>> Char in animal manure management where urine and feces are mixed with 
>> char and the char adsorbs some of the N
>>  
>> Most likely in all of these circumstances the char would also become 
>> charged with substantial microbial populations.
>>  
>> I think such complexed chars would be very acceptable to organic 
>> certification bodies, as long as the char is from noncontaminated 
>> origin materials, but not if synthetic N is used.
>>  
>> My tuppence,
>>  
>> Frank Teuton
>>
>>     ----- Original Message -----
>>     *From:* Sean K. Barry <mailto:sean.barry at juno.com>
>>     *To:* Gerald Van Koeverden <mailto:vnkvrdn at yahoo.ca>
>>     *Cc:* Terra Preta <mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
>>     *Sent:* Monday, January 14, 2008 9:11 AM
>>     *Subject:* Re: [Terrapreta] eprida char - organic?
>>
>>     Hi Gerrit,
>>      
>>     I think "Nitrogen-oil free grades" refers to high nitrogen
>>     fertilizer that is not made with petroleum or natural gas.
>>      
>>     Regards,
>>      
>>     SKB
>>
>>         ----- Original Message -----
>>         *From:* Gerald Van Koeverden <mailto:vnkvrdn at yahoo.ca>
>>         *To:* Sean K. Barry <mailto:sean.barry at juno.com>
>>         *Cc:* Terra Preta <mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
>>         *Sent:* Monday, January 14, 2008 12:51 AM
>>         *Subject:* Re: [Terrapreta] eprida char - organic?
>>
>>         Sean,
>>
>>         I did a quick scan of those organic farming regulations: the
>>         only relevant applications I could find were on page 16 under
>>         the heading "Synthetics allowed."
>>
>>         1.  The only entry for charcoal is "Activated charcoal (CAS
>>         #s 7440–44–0; 64365–11–3)—only from vegetative sources; for
>>         use only as a 
>>         filtering aid."   
>>
>>         2.  Nitrogen—oil-free grades.  
>>
>>         Doesn't look like even straight charcoal would be acceptable
>>         to them as a soil amendment.  "Terra Preta" is not yet a part
>>         of their lexicon.
>>
>>         I don't know what an "oil-free" grade of nitrogen means.
>>
>>         gerrit
>>
>>
>>
>>         On 14-Jan-08, at 1:03 AM, Sean K. Barry wrote:
>>
>>>         <summary-of-us-organic-regulation.pdf>
>>
>>
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>
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