Prospecting for Gold
Sorry turtle This might be a better link
http://crops.confex.com/crops/wc2006...gram/D1002.HTM
Then you have to sort though each session
I agree a lot of words to say "sugar helps we think"!
That why I got tired of prospecting.
Temperature
How important do you think temperature at which the charcoal was produced is in Terra preta?
I think activated charcoal might be easier to find
(especially used?-some uses may be benign to soil)
Gost
An interesting "Quirky Science Fact" came up yesterday about the incredibly ubiquitous nature of nematode family worms.
Want to read it and tell me if you think it adds anything to this discussion?
Charcoal
I can only buy coconut charcoal.
Local laws don't allow burning.
I have found a close by farmer who does make it, but only makes it from time to time.
My next stop is the Charcoal Chicken Shops" to see what they use.
How close is coal to charcoal?
There are lots of coal mines nearby
My experiment
I have 5 pots of parsley planted
2 with 6 handfuls of charcoal (various sizes mostly small)
2 with 3 hand fulls
1 with nothing although I did add some Attaputite to the standard 'cheap' potting mix
My one uncontrolled variable is the possum he loves parsley!
Clays
I am playing around with Attaputite (kitty litter-activated?whatever that means- clay) in pots of orchids in particular.
It is a clay and is easy to get and cheap (Bentonise as well?)
Water
Our local dams are down to 19% capacity at the moment and as of next week it is only hand watering.
Fortunately it looks like rain all this week
It would be good to know how well charcoal holds water in the soil.
Many local gardeners would be interested.
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