[Terrapreta] Fwd: eprida nitrogenous char

[Gerald Van Koeverden]

"A typical 10% nitrogen composite fertilizer made from the  
sequestered carbon and integrated ammonium bicarbonate would have the  
following composition.

56.4% ammonium bicarbonate (AB)
43.6% char"
(http://www.eprida.com/hydro/)

Thus one ton of Eprida's "ecoss" char would have 200 lbs. of nitrogen  
valued at up to $120.00 at to-day's prices for nitrogen only, with  
the added value of being a slow-release type and adding char to the  
soil.

Gerrit

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Gerald Van Koeverden <vnkvrdn at yahoo.ca>
> Date: January 14, 2008 12:04:11 AM EST (CA)
> To: Terra Preta <terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
> Subject: eprida nitrogenous char
>
> Has anybody heard what Eprida figures the production cost of their  
> high nitrogen char would be to the producer using their equipment?   
> What is the nitrogen content of their char?
>
> the reason I'm asking is that nitrogen fertilizers are becoming  
> much more expensive recently - $0.55-0.60/lb..  Is the cost of  
> Eprida's nitrogen anywhere close?  Since charcoal absorbed nitrogen  
> would be a more efficient source of supplying nitrogen, even if it  
> were, let's say 30-40% more expensive, it might still be  
> competitive, with the added bonus of adding charcoal to the soil...
>
> Why
> "Why are nitrogen prices so high?"
>
> by Eddie Funderburg
>
> "Nitrogen fertilizer prices have been high for several months now.  
> In some cases, the price has gone up 50 percent or more, but why is  
> it increasing? The price of nitrogen fertilizers is directly  
> related to the price of natural gas (methane). Manufacturing 1 ton  
> of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer requires 33,500 cubic feet of  
> natural gas. This cost represents most of the costs associated with  
> manufacturing anhydrous ammonia. When natural gas prices are $2.50  
> per thousand cubic feet, the natural gas used to manufacture 1 ton  
> of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer costs $83.75. If the price rises to  
> $7.00 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas, the cost of natural  
> gas used in manufacturing that ton of anhydrous ammonia rises to  
> $234.50, an increase to the manufacturer of $150.75."
>
> http://www.noble.org/Ag/Soils/NitrogenPrices/Index.htm
>
>
> "Larry Oldham, Extension soil specialist, said corn uses between  
> 130 and 250 pounds of nitrogen fertilizer per acre, depending on  
> the soil and crop management factors.
>
> 'Our nitrogen prices have been 55 to 60 cents a pound. That’s a  
> historical high,' Oldham said."
>
> http://msucares.com/news/print/agnews/an07/071219.html
>
> Gerrit
>
>
>
>
>

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