[Terrapreta] Carbon Neutral Composts

[Greg and April]

Steve,

There is no one complete answer to your request.    The rate and types of gasses being generated in a compost pile varies so much with different variables, that it would be imposable to give you one answer that will be the same for the next compost pile and the one after than ( and so on ).

Variables include, specific organic make up of the ingredients of the pile, pile moisture content, external and internal temperature, how well oxygen is getting to the micro and macro organisms, are there places where anaerobic decomposing occurring and if so how big are they.    These are a just few of the factors that come to the top of my head, and each of these factors can influence one or more of the other factors.     


I'm not so sure that char will even deal with the gasses except in an indirect way - because many of them are a direct result of microorganism respiration.


Greg H.


----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Stephen Hayden 
  To: Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 21:26
  Subject: [Terrapreta] Carbon Neutral Composts


  To all,
  I have an idea to incorporate char into composts and soiless mediums to offset their carbon, methane and nitrous oxide emissions on decomposition and make their use carbon-neutral.  Can anyone tell me at what rates and amounts of these gases can be anticipated for typical organic materials such as manures, peat, bark, coir, etc.?  Thanks!
  Steve Hayden
  Solid Ground 


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