Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Soil amendments, such as compost and organic fertilizers,
should be mixed with the soil—no doubt. But this doesn't
require a rototiller. A simple three-tined cultivator (looks like
a claw), operated by hand, is sufficient to incorporate
amendments into the top couple of inches of soil. Earthworms
and other soil inhabitants will do the job of spreading the
compost into deep soil layers.
The Amazing Power of Biochar
Most of us are used to thinking of charcoal as an
indispensable aid to grilling, and that it certainly is! But less
well-known is its equally beneficial effect when added to
ordinary garden soil. The standard charcoal you buy at the
grocery store may be impregnated with everything from
saltpeter to volatile organic compounds intended to aid
burning, so it may not be a good choice. There are some “all
natural” or even organic charcoals out there that can be used,
such as Cowboy Brand Charcoal, though. In addition, some
companies make charcoal specifically intended for
agricultural use, such as Troposphere Energy.
Of course, if you have access to hardwood, making your own
charcoal isn't terribly difficult. In fact, for agricultural use,
you don't even need hardwood—just any old vegetable
matter—and you can make the charcoal that is trendy
nowadays to call “biochar.”
The benefits of biochar mixed in the soil are many and were
first discovered by the peoples inhabiting the Amazon basin
in pre-Columbian times. They discovered that turning their
vegetable matter into charcoal, pulverizing it, and adding it to
the soil enhanced the soil's productivity. Soil scientists have
