Science Forums 2

[Charcoal]

The charcoal fertilizer could be used to restore the nutrients in areas around the globe where soil has been depleted, according to Day. He believes charcoal-enhanced soil could increase crop yields by 200 percent to 300 percent.

The ADE?s fertility is most likely linked to an anthropogenic accumulation of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) associated with bone apatite (Lima et al. 2002, Zech et al 1990), and black C as charcoal (Glaser et al. 2001a). The influence of charcoal in soil fertility is complex. Most charcoals (dependent on biomass material) is poor in nutrients. Therefore charcoal is more likely a soil conditioner.



So what is a home gardener to do?
When is charchol not charchol?
Today I spent a futile hour tring to buy charchol to mix into my potting mix.
One nursery had a kilo or so for $7
Another had activated chjarcol for fish tanks - imported from Japan -for abou$10 for 500grams
I had purchased a largish 5K? bag of BBQ charchol from the local supermarket, crushed this up and used it (about $7). Now they no longer stock it (It was imported from Malaysia)
Where my efforts in vain given the above comment?
Any thoughts?

Charcoal imported form Malaysia is most likely not from sustainable production. It is difficult to find locally produced charcoal (especially in the USA). We hape that Danny Day will change this and supply the missing product. $7 seems a very lucrative price for a byproduct from energy production.