permaculture

["Ron McCorkle" <ron@urbiculture.org>]

"In soil science, humus (coined 1790?1800; < Latin: earth, ground[1])

refers to any organic matter that has reached a point of stability,

where it will break down no further and might, if conditions do not

change, remain as it is for centuries, if not millennia."

 

Add to that humus an integrated eco lifestyle and you may get Terra Preta.
I've made Terra Preta, with very good results. Super high microbial life,
great structure, low/no watering.

 

(wikipedia)

Terra preta is characterized by the presence of low-temperature charcoal in
high concentrations; of high quantities of pottery sherds; of organic matter
such as plant residues, animal feces, fish and animal bones and other
material; and of nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), calcium
(Ca), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn).[4] It also shows high levels of
microorganic activities and other specific characteristics within its
particular ecosystem. It is less prone to nutrient leaching, which is a
major problem in most rain forests. Terra preta zones are generally
surrounded by terra comum, or "common soil"; these are infertile soils,
mainly acrisols,[4] but also ferralsols and arenosols.[5]

Terra preta soils are of pre-Columbian nature and were created by humans
between 450 BC and AD 950.[6][7] The soil's depth can reach 2 meters (6.6
ft). Thousands of years after its creation it has been reported to
regenerate itself at the rate of 1 centimeter (0.39 in) per year[8] by the
local farmers and caboclos in Brazil's Amazonian basin, who seek it for use
and for sale as valuable compost.

 

.....................

 

Message: 1

Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:30:19 -0500

From: Lawrence London <lfljvenaura@gmail.com>

Subject: [permaculture] Humus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>

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Humus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humus

 

Humus

>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the organic matter in soil. For the band, see

Humus (band). For the food, see Hummus.

Humus has a characteristic black or dark brown color, due to an

accumulation of organic carbon

 

In soil science, humus (coined 1790?1800; < Latin: earth, ground[1])

refers to any organic matter that has reached a point of stability,

where it will break down no further and might, if conditions do not

change, remain as it is for centuries, if not millennia.[2]

 

In agriculture, humus is sometimes also used to describe mature

compost, or natural compost extracted from a forest or other

spontaneous source for use to amend soil. It is also used to describe

a topsoil horizon that contains organic matter (humus type,[3] humus

form,[4] humus profile).[5]