[Stoves] Engine oil, Earthworms and Biochar

[Frank Shields]

Dear Kobus,

Perhaps we are talking about a new and better 'worm avoidance" test for the
IBI to adapt. The choice is if they would rather go tout of the light to
moist char (leave out the oil?) or stay on the damp asphalt. The control
(damp asphalt) would be the same for all doing the test. As it is now the
control for IBI procedure is a perfectly good soil material compared to it
with biochar added. They can live in either but may just choose the control
soil because of texture, brief ammonia release from high pH biochar, or many
other reasons -other than toxicity of the biochar. 

Letting them choose from living on moist asphalt to living in the dark in
moist biochar - they should want to go into the biochar unless something is
really out of balance and undesirable. Then see if they survive for a week.


Great observation

Frank


Frank Shields
42 Hangar Way
Watsonville,  CA  95076
(831) 724-5244 tel
(831) 724-3188 fax
frank at bioCharlab.com







-----Original Message-----
From: stoves-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
[mailto:stoves-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Kobus Venter
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 12:38 PM
To: stoves at lists.bioenergylists.org
Subject: [Stoves] Engine oil, Earthworms and Biochar

Hi all

I had a fascinating experience concerning biochar and engine oil. I spilled
some oil from an oil change onto asphalt and poured some char over it to see
if it would soak it up. Today about 6 days later whilst brooming it off I
found probably 10 wriggling earthworms in it working away trying to make
compost. I was amazed that earthworms could thrive in that environment.
There was no soil present whatsoever. Now I know most of us have their own
secret spot in the garden for disposing with their engine oil. Do the right
thing, fess up and rehabilitate it with biochar. 

Regards 

Kobus
Sent from my BlackBerryR wireless device www.vuthisa.com
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