[Terrapreta] Char sizes

[MFH]

Larry - many thanks for all the excellent photos. Some of your results like
the swiss chard are stunning.

 

Looks like a small concrete mixer in the background of one of the photos. If
a couple of river stones weighing a few pounds/kilos were added to e load of
char, this should pulverise it nicely in a few minutes.

 

Do you have any data that compares biomass weight of plants from a char plot
vs from an un-charred plot?

 

Max H

 

 

  _____  

From: Larry Williams [mailto:lwilliams at nas.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, 6 May 2008 5:50 PM
To: MFH
Cc: Terra Preta
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Char sizes

 

Max and list members-------With the learned folks on this list, I really
need a comment or two on whether this set
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/rchaard/336553821/in/set-72157594444994347/>
of pictures represent an effective component to the Terra Preta nova concept
that is being explored in the temperate Pacific Northwest.

 

Do note that the soil was/ is very high in organics and has been so for
around 12 years. I have no way of knowing if Dr. Wardle tests apply to this
situation or not. I do know that the Swiss Chard above these chunks of
charcoal was 42" high. The largest that I have ever seen in this garden or
anywhere else. This is low fired charcoal made in the presence of wood smoke
and sizzling meat. Some on this list may remember the Weber charcoal claim.

 

The garden soil was as rich as I could provide. And yes, I blew the second
year's result, I believe, with to much lime when I have never used lime
before. Do look at the link provided. Your gardener-------Larry

 

 

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On May 5, 2008, at 6:37 PM, MFH wrote:





I suspect that this has a bearing on the effectiveness of the added char,
e.g. the available surface area for a 1mm char particle is likely to be
relatively much greater than for a piece of char the size of a golf ball.

 

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