[Terrapreta] pulverizing charcoal

[MFH]

Worms feed by “sucking” moist particles of organic matter. They have no
teeth. It appears that fine grains of soil or sand or char are ingested to
assist in the breakdown of the organic matter in the worm’s intestines.

 

It seems unlikely that worms could be directly involved in breaking down
large char pieces. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a link. If the
moisture conditions are suitable and there is ample organic matter then
there will be worms, and worms will improve the soil, and improved soil will
mean more plant vigour, which will mean more plant roots. And more plant
roots will mean greater breakdown of charcoal lumps, as the roots penetrate
holes and gaps seeking nutrients and moisture. The forces generated by
expanding roots is considerable, as evidenced domestically by broken
concrete paths and damaged pipes.

 

And there are lots of roots. A mature rye plant has a total of around 600
km. of roots.

 

Max H

 

 

  _____  

From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of folke Günther
Sent: Wednesday, 21 May 2008 8:01 AM
To: Greg and April
Cc: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] pulverizing charcoal

 

I don't know what happens if you have very large amounts, but if you add a
reasonable (>a kilo per sq. m) amount of unsorted (up to 4-5 cm pieces) char
to he soil, and wait for a year, then all char will be very soft and easily
split up in smaller pieces. I think the plant roots do most of the on, and
he worms will hunt for bacteria in the char.

2008/5/20 Greg and April <gregandapril at earthlink.net>:

Are you sure about that ?

 

We already have some evidence that when char level get above a certain level
in worm bins, they don't do very well - probably because it's so abrasive.

If you add amounts of char in the worm-bin, the organic material will
disintegrate rather fast, the microbes will be eaten by the worms, an after
some time (faster than you think), almost only the char will be left. It is
evident that the worms don't thrive very well there!

 

If it's abrasive enough to keep worm levels down, what makes you think that
the worms can make big pieces small?

 

I'm not trying to be rude, I'm just pointing out that we may have some
evidence that what you said may not be true.

 

 

Greg H.

 

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: folke <mailto:folkeg at gmail.com>  Günther 

To: May Waddington <mailto:may.waddington at gmail.com>  

Cc: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org ; Roy <mailto:rwlent at gmail.com>  Lent 

Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 2:17

Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] pulverizing charcoal

 

The worms and the plant roots  will do the job. After a year, all pieces are
conveniently small.
FG




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