Perhaps there was a thread was about Terre Pieta, but my specific comment
was about charcoal. I believe I clearly indicated my response as being
about charcoal.
Charcoal by definition is wood held at high temperature (175 to 180
C) with low oxygen (doesn't burn but essentially crystallizes). This
can be done mechanically, or can be done by biology.
If someone wants to develop a new term, for example "char", then a clear
definition is required. Conditions for production of that material need to
be defined.
When people compost using woody materials, such as oak, pine, cedar,
eucalyptus, or other wide C:N bark, heartwood or sapwood, with other materials
(green plant material and high N containing material) on which the bacteria and
fungi grow rapidly, use up oxygen, and generate high heat (above 170 C), then
conditions are correct to produce charcoal.
Compost is NOT sterile at 175 C. Just because none of the
organisms growing at those temperatures will grow on any lab culture plate, does
not mean those organisms do not exist.
But many conventional microbiology-based people make that
mistake. There are a huge number of species and high numbers of
individuals at high temperatures. Take a look at deep sea vents.
Check out the number of species in a ml of seawater, regardless of whether that
water is from deep ocean vents or from near-shore, or mid-depth.
The reason that compost piles heat is through the heat released at the
organisms grow. No organisms, no heat in a compost pile. If you
have heat, you have growing organisms.
In Terre Pieta, there are a huge number of organisms. Which is more
likely to be more important to the production of the fertility of this
soil? Charcoal, the charred organic matter, or the organisms?
----------
If you have a material that is compacted, it often lacks
oxygen. Mycorrhizal fungi are strict aerobes, and cannot grow
when oxygen is lacking. If material that structurally helps
oxygen move more easily into the material is added, the mycorrhizal fungi will
be seen to grow more readily as the conditions restricting their growth are
alleviated.
Did the structural material supply carbon? mineral
nutrients? or allow oxygen to move into the material?
What is the real explanation for the benefit of charcoal for mycorrhizal
growth?
Elaine Ingham
In a message dated 9/13/2006 3:59:48 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
nosliwelad@YAHOO.COM writes:
Elaine, Elaine R.
Ingham
Soil Foodweb Inc., Corvallis, Oregon Soil Foodweb Inc., Port Jefferson, New York Soil Foodweb Institute, Lismore Australia Soil Foodweb Institute Cambridge, New Zealand Laboratorios de Soil Foodweb, Culiacan, Mexico Soil Foodweb South Africa, Polokwane, SA Soil Foodweb Canada, Vulcan, Alberta, Canada Soil Foodweb United Kingdom, Laverstoke Park, UK Coming soon -a second lab in Canada, one in Kenya, and in Japan!   ***************************************************** To unsubscribe from SANET-MG: 1- Visit http://lists.sare.org/archives/sanet-mg.html
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