permaculture

[Lawrence London <lfljvenaura@gmail.com>]

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From: John
Here is an anecdotal report of biochar deterring voles from a potato patch:

Raw hardwood charcoal was tilled into the bed before planting potatoes. The
section of the bed containing biochar produced potatoes that were
disease-free and larger than those from soil that was not amended with
biochar.  The potatoes in the un-amended section were small, diseased, and
either partially or completely eaten by voles.

Joseph (a metalworker friend) used a simple TLUD barrel retort to make
biochar from hardwood floor trimmings.  Without crushing the pieces (some
as large as 1/2" x 1/2" x 12 inches long) he tilled them into a portion of
his garden (clayey soil). The biochar was NOT pretreated: This biochar was
sterile and contained no added nutrients, micronutrients, trace elements,
nor added beneficial microbiology.

I was surprised to hear of increased productivity in the first year,
especially without any fertilization or inoculation of the biochar.  More
typically we hear of raw charcoal "stealing" nutrients during the first
year.  For this reason alone the anecdote is noteworthy.  However, it could
be helpful to situations like yours where a solution is needed for a large
population of root-vegetable pests.

An experiment could be done at low cost and very little risk: A small bag
of hardwood lump charcoal could be tilled into a small area before potatoes
are planted.  Or a vertical trench "barrier" could be placed around a small
area (slicing open the ground 6 to 8 inches deep, then sprinkling chunks
into the slice before tamping it closed again).

I hope this helps.
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-- 
Lawrence F. London, Jr.
lfljvenaura@gmail.com
https://sites.google.com/site/avantgeared