Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>]

The wood biochar is made from is organic but the burning breaks down the 
organic compounds in it including volatized gasses and leaves only minerals 
including elemental carbon. Any nitrogen from the original material is gone. 
Chemistry 101. The remaining minerals do not feed earthworms or microbes that 
feed plant growth; only organic matter can do that. Biology 101. And 
obviously anything soaked in nitrogen would be a good source of nitrogen. The 
problem with soaking charcoal in nitrogen is you can't. It's a gas. If you're 
thinking of saving the fuel from tillage, think of the fuel wasted in the 
burning. It could be used to heat a house. And making charcoal releases CO2 
to the atmosphere. Ecology 101.

You mention
Are not normal organic practices,
>green manures which require tillage to get the nitrogen in the soil? Is
>that not damaging to soil structure?

Organic practices do not "damage" the soil. Organic gardening can feed the 
world.

paul tradingpost@lobo.net

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 2/18/2011 at 12:05 AM richard green wrote:

>Charcoal is organic matter, which is why nature makes charcoal? Every
>forest fire that is rained on! Is not composting accelerated
>decomposition? We do in months what nature would take years to accomplish.
>This includes deep mulch sheet composting. Charcoal is stable OM requiring
>centuries to decompose, it resist compaction and provides a habitat for
>mycorrhizal fungi. Is not every perminate raised bed at some time formed
>by moving soil? Thus aerated? Bio-char is a one time application, or it
>can be accomplished thru multiple applications thru sheet composting by
>addition to your normal compost and used as a mulch, and it is a good
>nitrogen source if soaked in nitrogen. Are not normal organic practices,
>green manures which require tillage to get the nitrogen in the soil? Is
>that not damaging to soil structure? I rescued another pile of leafs from
>the side of the road destined for the local land fill today they will
>become mulch or compost, I left the branches that could have become
>biochar because I've not yet dug a small fire pit. I am doing my share to
>help . I thank God for Rondale who remained open minded to new ways of
>thinking and re-testing of old ideas and asked himself if there is a
>better way. My intent is to test not argue. I respect and share the same
>beliefs as many on this list. However,Thank of the savings in fuel alone
>if OG farmers could skip the tillage of green manures?
>
>
>Rick
>