[RBlack]

What is the ph of pine charcoal or the ph levels after pine forest fires? Most char from any source is usually akaline but are some chared material more or less akaline than other? Anybody know of a site or list that compares ph levels of charred biomass?
Thanks
RB

[Michaelangelica]

Try this site.
Forest News Watch -- Leading-Edge Information for Forest & Paper Sector Decision Makers - .

Let me know waht you find.

Char usually makes soil slightly acidic by 1-1.5 Ph points

[RBlack]

Thanks for the website. I didn't find anything there but did find that hardwoods make soils have a higher ph the softwoods (conifers) and an interesting fact that hardwood increased the CEC of soils but conifer actually decreased it. This from "Ameliorating physical and chemical properties of highly weathered soils in the tropics with charcoal", Glaser, Lehmann, Zeck 2002
Thanks RB

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by RBlack

Thanks for the website. I didn't find anything there but did find that hardwoods make soils have a higher ph the softwoods (conifers) and an interesting fact that hardwood increased the CEC of soils but conifer actually decreased it. This from "Ameliorating physical and chemical properties of highly weathered soils in the tropics with charcoal", Glaser, Lehmann, Zeck 2002
Thanks RB

Glad to be of help.
You might find the "Terra preta" forum on Hypography of interest too

I am surprised about conifer char decreasing CEC
I think CEC is probably facilitated by bio-oils and resins in the wood.
These promote microbial and fungal activity in the soil and thus increase CEC.
(The type of soil clay/sand etc will also effect CEC. )
Charcoal needs to be made at low temps 4-500C to preserve these oil/resins.

Were both hardwood and pine chars made at the same temperature, and used in the same soils?
If not then a valid comparison can't be made.
Although there is suggestion in the research I have read that hardwood char is best for resins (at least in the tropics)

[Flapjack]

Being abreviation blind please tell me what CEC is

[Michaelangelica]

Caton Exchange Capacity
I theorize that no one really knows what it means

I define it as the amount of 'good' things being able to be transported to plant roots.

The roots exchange good things with the soil.
God knows what the plants give back -poker chips?

[Flapjack]

My understanding in the process of photosynthesis the organels in the pallisade cells, the cells that have the cloroplasts, direct diferent formulations of carbohydrates via the phloem, some to the roots which not only allows the meristem to grow or elongate, excesses are leached out through the root airs, to stimulate the microbe feeding activity thus producing more food for photosynthesis.

I will have to sit down after that

[Michaelangelica]

My dictionary is working overtime!

Are you saying that charcoals from different woods (incl. bamboo) have a different pH?

This is an important question

MA

[Flapjack]

Hi MA

No idea on PH of charcoal. My recent supply contact say that they import a lot of Eucalyptus charcoal