[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by Rev

i cant give refernces but i have often read of lignite in potting media and as a source of humic acids

however its still a fossil fuel. ok for local use but lets not entertain broadscale use
once its up it will degrade and release more co2

Humates

These materials are usually produced by liquefaction of Brown Coal, although solid and soluble products have also appeared recently. These materials have never been regarded as fertilisers, but rather as “Soil conditioners”, with effects on soil structure, presumed to be due to their high Carbon content. However, many criticisms about the use of Humates have pointed to the small amount of Carbon actually applied, compared with the increases in Soil Organic Carbon that manufacturers claim. Others dismiss these criticisms, saying that humates act as catalysts for biological processes which lead to accumulation of organic matter in the soil.

Research by SWEP may actually support this latter contention, as it showed humates produce a similar change in microbial profile to Kelp extracts, but with a strong suppression of Lactic acid bacteria and stimulation of Cellulose utilisers. In a sense, these materials appear to work as if they were some kind of ‘hybrid’ between kelp extracts and fish emulsions, but generally at higher application rates. This finding also appears to support the general feeling among both manufacturers and users that combination products between two or more of these three materials can be more effective that each alone.

Due to the wide range of product formulations, there is probably no single effective application rate, but again the lower application rates appeared to be the more effective.

http://www.swep.com.au/pages/best/biological.html

or,
said slighly differently

HUMATES
These materials are usually
produced by liquefaction of
brown coal, although solid and
soluble products have also appeared recently. They have never
been regarded as fertilisers, but rather as soil conditioners,
with effects on soil structure, presumed to be due to their high
carbon content.
However, many criticisms about the use of humates have pointed to the small amount of carbon actually applied, compared with the increases in soil organic carbon that manufacturers claim.
Others dismiss these criticisms, saying that humates act as catalysts for biological processes which lead to accumulation of organic matter in the soil, rather than simply adding carbon to the soil.
Research by SWEP may actually support this latter contention, as it showed humates produce a similar change in
microbial profile to kelp extracts, but with a strong suppres-
sion of lactic acid bacteria and an additional stimulation of
cellulose utilisers. In a sense, these materials appear to work as
if they were some kind of hybrid between kelp extracts and
fish emulsions, but generally at higher application rates. This
finding also appears to support the general feeling among
both manufacturers and users that combination products
between two or more of these three materials can be more
effective than each alone.
Due to the wide range of product formulations, there is
probably no single effective application rate, but again the
lower application rates appeared to be the more effective.

Bioactive materials for sustainable soil management

Interesting article on humates
Humates & Humic Substances

Include humate and molasses with the micro-organism package.

Humate contains humic and fulvic acid, is high in trace minerals, and may be found in both a liquid and a dry powder form. Humate increases water aggregates, infiltration, and percolating; benefits soil structure, enhances root growth, and reduces leaching, runoff and erosion. Humate can be used as a foliar to aid stress.

Molasses acts as a soil amendment and is an excellent chelating agent plus providing trace nutrients.

Welcome to the Holistic Horse Magazine

On the TP List-server a while ago there was some discussion of sugar as a fertiliser/soil amendment.

I just read this

"Molasses contains powerful chelating agents. . These. .envelop metal atoms. . . cyclic hydroxamic acids. . .The plants from which molasses is made presumably use these chelating agents to extract minerals from the soil

page148
'How to Fossilise your Hamster' and other amazing experiments M O'Hare

[Folke Günther]

No, probably not. As you saw in the picture of lignite forming, it is strongly compressed. The fine thing with ading charcoal is that you add a tremendous lot of surface to the soil. (One bag of charcoal, 2.5 kg, has an internal surface area of one square kilometre!). The surface works as a habitat for microorganisms and an adsorption surface for minerals and nutrients.
When you compress it, as in coal formation, you loose the surface. So, adding lignite or anthracite to he soil is nothing better than adding stones. In principle is a way to sequester carbon, but even better would it be if you never had taken it up.

[Moontanman]

I grew up in "Coal Country" the hills of West Virginia (USA) the amount of ecological damage done by coal is difficult to quantify. Coal is full of very acidic sulfates and leaching of this and other chemicals from coal has killed entire water sheds of lakes, streams, and rivers. Almost nothing grows in theses areas. Anywhere coal is stored or processed suffers from the same effects. Coal contains lots of radio-nucleotides. Spreading coal around also spreads these elements around and coal releases radon gas as well. I have no desire to spread coal in any form in my garden or even my neighborhood. Even if you can somehow neutralize the damage of the chemicals in coal the damage done by the process of mining the coal makes it not worth the effort.

[Michaelangelica]

Another interesting blog on humates

SOURCES OF HUMIC SUBSTANCES AND THEIR VALUE AS FERTILIZER INGREDIENTS

Humic substances commonly occur within soils, waters, peat, and in carbon containing minerals such as brown coals, low grade lignites, and leonardites.

"carbon containing minerals"= charcoal ??

Humic acids (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) are excellent foliar fertilizer carriers and activators. Application of humic acids (HAs) or fulvic acids (FAs) in combination with trace elements and other plant nutrients, as foliar sprays, can improve the growth of plant foliage, roots, and fruits. By increasing plant growth processes within the leaves an increase in carbohydrates content of leaves and stems occurs.

Most small molecules of non-humic substances are rapidly degraded by microorganisms within the soil. In contrast soil humus is slow to decompose (Degrade) under natural soil conditions. When in combination with soil minerals soil humus can persist in the soil for several hundred years.

The Wonderful World of Humus and Carbon

From a site that sell humates from Victorian Brown Coal.
Don't these sound like the benefits claimed by chatcoal in soil?

# Nutri-Mate has a very high Cation Exchange Capacity (250), with an associated ability for nutrient and moisture retention.
# Nutri-Mate contains the highest organic carbon levels of any input. Organic carbon is the principle limiting factor in many soils.
# Organic carbon is the home base for beneficial micro-organisms.
# Nutri-Mate Organic Humates deliver slow-release humic acid, at a price that equates to a few cents per litre.
# Nutri-Mate is a highly effective soil conditioner, largely due to its stimulation of fungi which generate desirable crumb structure in the soil.

Ylad Living Soils - Products - Nutri - Nutri-Mate Organic Humates™