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permaculture - [permaculture] Re: permaculture Digest, Vol 2, Issue 33

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  • From: Scott Pittman <pci@permaculture-inst.org>
  • To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [permaculture] Re: permaculture Digest, Vol 2, Issue 33
  • Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2003 10:54:25 -0700

As a New Mexican at high dry and windy, I'd have to quibble with the word "wet" when referring to above or below ground, damp - maybe.
I have had the same experience here with woody plants, they may break down "someday" but I have over an acre of branches covered in light soil that are in a petrified state after seven years. I have trouble composting forbs, for crying out loud, unless I keep the hose nearby. My compost is also always threatening to petrify rather than compost - more water, covers, and less turning. I think the problem here is the lack of composting mycorrhiza, which is compounded by the lack of humus and humidity.

I have wondered these past few drought like years, if the term "drought tolerant" might have to do with the root colonizing mycorrhize holding moisture for use by the plant. I know this phenomena of water storage in the mycelium has been documented and that this water is made available to adjacent plants, but I don't know if a specific study has been done on drought tolerant/resistant plants. It would make sense.

My strategy this year is to inoculate my trees, garden and compost with a wide variety of mycorrhize and see how they fare versus the untreated trees.

Scott

At 01:56 AM 3/26/03 -0500, you wrote:
Regarding piling woody trimmings and harvesting
> humus later, I think it's
> worth pointing out that this works where it's wet
> and not where it's dry. I
> am not familiar with the climate in El Dorado county
> California. It doesn't
> work in New Mexico; I've tried it!
>
> It's wet in New Mexico- just not above ground.
> Dryland composting systems
> often use pits, no? Also note, I recommended
> weighting the brush down with
> wood and turfs, to compact it, and growing plants on
> top to shade it, as
> well as cutting it more than just enough to haul it
> away. I didn't go into
> that in depth; it really does help to limb pieces
> enough to allow them to
> lie reasonably flat on the ground. Building
> hugelkultur beds and composting
> large amounts of branches is good practice for that.
> After awhile you get
> quite good at reducing branches efficiently. If I
> remember right El Dorado
> is in the gold rush country? Dry summers for sure,
> but not classic dryland.
>
> -Rick




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