Effects of Soil Microbial Fertility by Charcoal in Soil
Makoto Ogawa, Kansai Environment Engineering Center, Kansai Electric Power Co. Ltd, UGA Conference 2004
Characteristics and Function of Charcoal
1.Porous substance with high water and air holding capacity; Suitable habitat for some microbes and plant growth, good material for soil amendment, absorption of chemicals and humidity control
2.High alkalinity ; Neutralization of acidic soil and improvement of chemical components of soil and
selection of microorganisms
3.Non organic matter ; Exclusion of saprophytes and propagation of autotrophic and symbiotic microorganisms, free living nitrogen fixing bacteria, root nodule bacteria, Frankia and some mycorrhizal fungi
4.Low mineral content ; “Charcoal has no roles as a fertilizer”
Composition of bark charcoal %
Carbon:77.58, Volatile Substances:12.92, Ash: 9.50
Mineral contents of ash %
SiO2:36.5, Al2O3:10.9, CaO:19.2, K2O:1.1, Na2O3:5.35,
Fe2O3:7.5, MgO:10.3, P2O5:1.7
# Air supply by charcoal induces the activation of soil microbes and CO2 emission temporally. Small amount of chemical fertilizers or organic matters should be mixed with charcoal in agricultural use.
See also:
Reactivity of Wood charcoal with Ozone
Topics (Ogawa):
Effects of ectomycorrhiza and tree growth: pine, dipterocarps,
Effect on root nodule formation and soybean (500, 1000 gm/m2)
Effect of rice husk charcoal on soybean and maize (charcoal, lime, fertilizer)
Effect of charcoal on root growth and nodule formation Acacia mangium
Charcoal as media for immobilizing useful microorganisms (spores of bacteria, root nodule bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, Frankia and nitrogen fixing bacteria)
Effect of charcoal for inoculation of Frankia
Effect of charcoal compost on (bacterial)soil disease control
Effect of Charcoal on VA mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Growth (VA mycorrhiza is essential for phosphate and mineral absorption of many plants, e.g. soy bean)
Charcoal is good habitat for some VA mycorrhizal fungi (cucumber, apple tree)
Effect of Charcoal on the propagation of Soil Bacteria and Free Living Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria in Tropical Soil (e.g. aerobic nitrogen fixing bacteria)
Carbon sequestration