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Entry Date
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Nick Name
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Location
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Friday, October 21, 2022
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Little Ketchup
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Grittyville, WA
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Entry 206 of 228 |
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Solarization... kills bugs, pathogens.
Fire adds biochar.
In terra preta, the soil biology is higher because of the charcoal. Why? Does the charcoal change the electrochemical properties of the soil favorably? I have very oxidized soil, where high aluminum acts unfavorably on the roots and soil biology. What keeps terra preta alive? Is high CEC related to oxidation/reduction?
There are time periods where the soil here is quite good, but in the summer the structure usually breaks down and late in the winter the soil is also a bit more dead than I would like... I think these changes in the soil are electrochemical (similar to ph) and biological.
I would like to feed the soil whatever it needs to stay in that optimal zone.
I think I will stop putting wood ash on the soil, its too oxidative and too high in potassium. I can switch the wood ash over to the mulch pile. As for biochar, I have a hunch it needs to be mixed with something very fertile otherwise its an empty reservoir. The way I am doing it right now, its like increasing the size of the battery in an electric car, but then not charging it. There is no point in having a bigger battery if its not also kept charged.
Better mulch. Better fertigation. Better weed suppression. Better soil biology and ground level C02. Better supply of nutrients, satiating every hunger the plant has, without any detrimental excesses.
The bioassays (fancy word for filling a pot with a soil sample and planting some seeds in it) that I did this spring were very accurate.
Most of them said "this soil is terrible" and only a couple were good. None said the soil was perfect. Why not?
But even with imperfect soil, with a little bit of foliar feeding, the plants would probably be fine. So to reach the next level do I change my methods, or my soil...
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