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[Gerrit]

Regarding soil chemistry, Dr Van Zwieten said agrichar raised soil pH at about one-third the rate of lime, lifted calcium levels and reduced aluminium toxicity on the red ferrosol soils of the trial.

"Soil biology improved, the need for added fertiliser reduced and water holding capacity was raised," he said. The trials also measured gases given off from the soils and found significantly lower emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas more than 300 times as potent as carbon dioxide).

Other investigators have noted that the relative neutralizing value (RNV) of char for acidic soils depends on what the char was made from and how it was made. But even at 1/3 the RNV of lime the change would be significant since so much char is used. Those with calcareous soils could not use it unless they buffered the alkalinity, perhaps with sulfur.

from "http://www.garyjones.org/mt/archives/000540.html"