Charcoal finings.......soil conditioner?

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snudz

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Charcoal finings.......soil conditioner?
« on: October 31, 2007, 20:56 »
Hi guys,

I have an almost unlimited supply of fine charcoal powder and bits (a byproduct of the charcoal we produce) and seem to remember reading or being told that it would make a great soil conditioner.  Could someone confirm this before I start digging a small mountain into my allotment.  What do you think, dig it in or continue filling in the potholes in the track to our coppice?

Cheers

Andy

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WG.

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Charcoal finings.......soil conditioner?
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2007, 21:06 »
It is almost pure carbon & will therefore cause serious nitrogen robbery.  Keep it away from the soil.

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muntjac

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Charcoal finings.......soil conditioner?
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2007, 21:22 »
if you burn a bonfire add soil to it that has weeds in it .burn everything on the plot other than man mades .all organic stuff has a value .potash mainly .as wg says charcoal is just unburnt wood .burn it and it becomes ash .  :wink:
still alive /............

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WG.

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Re: Charcoal finings.......soil conditioner?
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2007, 21:38 »
Quote from: "snudz"
a byproduct of the charcoal we produce
I'm sure you've looked into this but you can get briquetting machines which would give you another product.  Yes they are expensive.

I assume you are making / selling lumpwood charcoal?

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snudz

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Re: Charcoal finings.......soil conditioner?
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2007, 21:55 »
Thanks for all your replies guys.  Funnily enough, with all the brash we burn I've also got a good supply of wood ash too.  Collecting it could be fun.  I thought bagging charcoal was a dirty job.  (Imagine a REALLY dirty coalminer. :shock: )

Quote from: "WG."
I assume you are making / selling lumpwood charcoal?


Yes mate, strictly small scale though.  We're reverting a few acres of overgrown hazel coppice back to what will be a viable product in about 8 years!!!  Most of what we cut at the moment is only fit for charcoal at the moment.  Hopefully we'll be able to supply the allotment with bean poles and pea sticks though.  Sure beats bamboo.


Anyway, off my pulpit now. :roll:   Thanks again

Andy

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mushroom

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Charcoal finings.......soil conditioner?
« Reply #5 on: November 02, 2007, 09:02 »
Quote from: "WG."
It is almost pure carbon & will therefore cause serious nitrogen robbery.  Keep it away from the soil.


I would have thought almost pure carbon would be inert at normal temperature. In order for carbon to cause nitrogen robbery, carbon must be in a bioavailable state - this is not the case with soot or anything approaching it in carbon content.

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WG.

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Charcoal finings.......soil conditioner?
« Reply #6 on: November 02, 2007, 09:19 »
Quote from: "mushroom"
Quote from: "WG."
It is almost pure carbon & will therefore cause serious nitrogen robbery.  Keep it away from the soil.


I would have thought almost pure carbon would be inert at normal temperature. In order for carbon to cause nitrogen robbery, carbon must be in a bioavailable state - this is not the case with soot or anything approaching it in carbon content.
Mmmm - interesting.

I did some googling and found this which fully supports what you say. http://www.bidstrup.com/carbon.htm



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