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gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 8571 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
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derbyshiredowser
Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 980 Location: derbyshire
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Jam Lady
Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 2501 Location: New Jersey, USA
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15539
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 45372 Location: yes
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15539
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gregotyn
Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 2201 Location: Llanfyllin area
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 45372 Location: yes
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Posted: Tue Jul 09, 19 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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wow, can you let us know what he does please?
if he is doing better than other folk in the same area/conditions knowing why is useful
big n tall plants can be down to the plant type but if he does far better with the same plant type etc etc .
i have added wood ash to mixture and composts but more for the pH than the charcoal fines. but it does go in and i rather like the product
spose there might be a double or even triple win win win
activated charcoal is awesome stuff even without rhodium, palladium or platinum at a few percent
re the last bit, rayney nickel is cheap as chips and often works better than the posh stuff, catching fire if dries out a bit when it has abraded your thermocouple pocket can be a mood spoiler until you start laughing in a very harsh safety shower ,the posh ones are far more polite unless you upset them in a far more sophisticated way
AC will have the tracers out of fuel, purify water, catch pollutants or incoming hazards, etc etc, i like activated charcoal with or without posh tweaks to make it do very clever stuff
i guess the stuff we are talking about re bio char has been hot for ages in a reducing atmosphere?
if so the black bits might have a huge surface area to mass ratio and loads of interesting properties, the pores have a world of their own and lots of uses have been found so for similar burnt goods |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15539
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Posted: Wed Jul 10, 19 7:11 am Post subject: |
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Biochar is the fines from charcoal burning. The Carbon Compost Company https://www.carboncompost.co.uk/ sell both kilns and biochar. We got our kiln from them. They are engineering type people but believe in the real rather than some claimed uses of biochar, and say it helps. I am inclined to just shove a bit in the compost heap as and when, rather than being systematic about it. Imo, it will absorb water and organic nutrients and let them out slowly. I, and I don't think they, would claim anything else for it, but the pore size is what does it. I have seen it claimed that various chemical reactions can occur in the pores, and while I do not disbelieve it, I have no evidence for it either.
Activated carbon just clears the pores out a bit more so will be even more effective. In the best cases it is made by passing high pressure steam through fine charcoal, but in the worst case could have anything in it as a lot is imported from perhaps dubious sources.
Ash from charcoal burning if not done properly will contain potassium, so bonfire ash/charcoal will be ideal for the garden as long as it is kept dry from burning to use. Potassium is very soluble, so an advantage to have the charcoal there as it might catch some of it before the rain washes it away.
Sorry about the long post, but it is something I do know a bit about, being charcoal burners (wood colliers being the more picturesque name), having used activated charcoal, and understanding some of the chemistry I felt it might be helpful. |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005 Posts: 45372 Location: yes
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15539
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Posted: Thu Jul 11, 19 6:39 am Post subject: |
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Biochar hasn't really been considered for very long. I think some soils in the Amazon where the people traditionally farm using cut and burn, then move on after a few years are what prompted the interest.
As far as reactions taking place, yes, it has certainly been suggested, but as far as I know, not proven. I see no reason why it wouldn't happen, but know of no proof, and other things are better catalysts than carbon. The rare earth metals are the more common catalysts. Again, there is no reason why nitrogen fixing bacteria shouldn't take up residence, but don't know if it has even been suggested.
The problem with biochar is that a lot of people have jumped on the bandwagon saying it is a 'miracle' product that will do everything except make the tea, so this creates prejudice in more sensible people against it. I will only claim for it what I know is true, and that way, nobody will be upset.
As far as the midden went. everything went on that. The cinders from the fire probably didn't help, as coal ash contains all sorts of things I wouldn't really want to use on my veg. We use it on paths if it is icy as ours contains a bit of coal dust, and that at least gives a bit of grip. My father used to use it if he was building a concrete path; rammed down hard it gives a good firm base for the path when used as hardcore. |
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gregotyn
Joined: 24 Jun 2010 Posts: 2201 Location: Llanfyllin area
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Posted: Thu Jul 11, 19 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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I know nothing except the brain washing the friend has given to me and what I have seen in his poly-tunnel. It appears that it works for him-with a 'but' as far as I am concerned. However, I was impressed with the plants, I only really went to see the broad beans which were truly 12 feet up in the air, though some had fallen over. He wasn't there when I went so I don't have a complete picture of the ins and outs, but will get more gen when I next see him-and he has time to chat and I will take notes, 'cos' my memory is shot. The tunnel is about 14 feet high and in the shape of 3 semicircles. I will find the length next time I see him. There is a local nursery who regularly change their tunnels, when the makers give him a good deal to do so, and they offer this friend first refusal on the old ones. His only fertilisers are, as I understand him, well rotted farm yard manure and biochar. I will get an 'how it all works' picture when I can. First I get a note book and write it all down to understand it, then ask the questions and then pass it on as 'info'-tremendous theory!!
Friend does say that it is 'chemical reactions' in the soil that make the boichar do what ever it does. His plants are really good is about all I know.
I have to give up working soon, my memory is going awol, and I set off with the job in hand and find myself forgetting what I am supposed to be doing, and going off at a tangent. I come out with the excuse that he will be like me when he is old, but I forgive him now well in advance!
Had my grass cut for hay yesterday when I got home from work, all 5 acres of it, by the friend who has most of it, for his wife's horses. Plan this year is to make them all collect the manure to a central point, and spread it around the end of April and try to get hay a bit sooner! There seems to be a good crop this time, plenty of leaf this time compared to last year, so should have a better feed quality. I am just praying for fine warm weather! |
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Ty Gwyn
Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Posts: 4562 Location: Lampeter
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Jam Lady
Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 2501 Location: New Jersey, USA
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Posted: Thu Jul 11, 19 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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Re charcoal and biochar - an interesting snippet from a recent Atlas Obscura piece about a recreated traditional Maori garden in New Zealand.
Writing about growing sweet potatoes it notes that: "Like in traditional Māori farms of the past, they’re the main feature of the garden, grown in regular mounds, or puke. To grow kūmara in cold, rainy New Zealand, Wiremu Puke, an ethnographic researcher from the Ngāti Wairere clan notes, the gardeners of yore mixed the soil with pumice and charcoal to keep them warm and encourage drainage. At one point, in the Waikato area, there were 2,000 hectares of this modified soil"
No comment about puke the planting mound / Puke the ethnographic researcher |
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Mistress Rose
Joined: 21 Jul 2011 Posts: 15539
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