[Terrapreta] interesting situation

[Richard Haard]

Listers

At our farm we just leveled a 4 acre field with bull dozer to make  
cultivation easier. In a 500 foot section it is now equally divided  
between undisturbed, scalped of topsoil and topsoil displaced from  
scalped area. Soil is sandy loam - subsoil looks like beach sand with  
reddish cast.

We just received results from soil test showing the our natural high   
calcium and magnesium is sourced from parent material.
OM in scalped area 2% (very low), undisturbed 3.4%, displaced 3%  (4  
to 8 % is desirable)
potassium higher in topsoil - indicating ? excess from prior  
fertilization
cation exchange capacity and buffer pH reflects OM results
low phosphorus is normal in our soils
no nitrate anywhere

We treated with superphosphate, and are cover cropping with buckwheat  
for 2-3 rotations before planting to crop this fall and winter. Cover  
crop will be supplemented with urea

It will be interesting to run a band of charcoal across this  
gradation. As we have no sources of commercial charcoal, I will be  
making charcoal and pre-charging the charcoal with nutrients. I would  
like to as in our earlier test use  a heavy dose of charcoal.

Larry - Help !!! Lets make some charcoal.

Suggestions/comments?

Rich H, Fourth Corner Nurseries
Bellingham, Wa.