[Stoves] Fwd: [biochar] Used Tractors ...biochar on homestead

[Carefreeland at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/21/2012 11:02:52 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
lhelferty at sympatico.ca writes:

(My most recent conversations I am having had to do with the  complimentary 
use of "rock dust" ~ a.k.a. "agrominerals" and Biochar ... The  use of 
'agrominerals' is a technique that [unknown to me until recently] has  actually 
been honed by many folks at the University of Guelph over the  past several 
decades.  With Biochar one should be able to create high  quality inoculated 
bio-chars that help to "free" the agrominerals [rock dust]  of their 
'nutrients' at a more accelerated rate.)



DD I have always wondered why limestone and other sedimentary rocks are  
often thought of as pure calcium and magnesium carbonate for example.  What 
happened to all the other beneficial plant nutrient that was in those  
decomposing shell creatures that formed the rock? Any sedimentary rock formed  
since the evolution of primitive life forms surely has lots of micronutrients  
and even possibly potassium salts dissolved within. All of these are 
fertilizers  of sorts, enabling the stabilization of nitrogen from the air in the 
presents of  proper soil microbes. 
    Lately, I've been taking in a lot of info on the  formation of gas and 
oil deposits. Studying the evidence, it becomes obvious  that these fossil 
fuels and even coal can form in any sedimentary rock layer  that contained 
life forms. Only a persisting cover trap is necessary to hold the  
hydrocarbons in. The same must be true for plant micronutrients, most of which  are 
even easier to hold in the strata than hydrocarbon.
    Lastly, igneous rocks usually have a wide variety  of minerals also 
contained within. The fact that most volcanic soils are  very rich for plant 
growth shows that is true. Only the metamorphic rocks  have tended to degrade 
to lowest terms, often but not always releasing the  beneficial minerals 
over time. 
    In conclusion, anything which encourages the  fracturing and weathering 
of rock will probably help plant life. Providing  carbon type structures to 
enable beneficial soil microbes to thrive then  accelerates these 
weathering processes as the acids produced such as carbonic  acid break down the 
rock. This explains the main benefit of biochar. The  saturated potassium and 
phosphorous salts in ash in the char also give a short  term boost to the 
soil. 
    
    Dan Dimiduk 
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