charcoal and woodash and other fertilizers?

alokin · Intermediate Crude Joined: Aug 24, 2007 Posts: 885

I saw charcoal in the supermarket - could it be used as a fertilizer in the garden, and what elements are in?
And how about using wood ash of the public BBQ's?
How much would you use in hand fulls per m²?
I make always stink brew but without a lid - do nutritients go out with the odour? I use Borage and to a lesser extend Comfrey, does anyone know which nutritients do these plants bring?

They sell a worm farm at BUnnings and the government pays half of it. I wonder if a worm farm produces more or better fertilizer than our usual compost bin and if we would be better off constructing something ourselves.

threadbear · Expert Joined: Jan 22, 2005 Posts: 7784

bkwillia · Tar Sands Joined: Aug 20, 2007 Posts: 70

Wood ash is a poor fertilizer. It can reduce soil acidity though it is very fast release and tends to burn plants.

Cooking charcoal is produced at temperatures which volatilize much of the NPK value in wood, and breaks down the cell structure which otherwise enhances its nutrient retention capacity.

Charcoal can be a very good soil building agent for low quality, carbon deficient soils, and it remains in the soil far longer than compost. The best charcoal is produced in a traditional fashion: slowly at low temperatures. Commercial processes use higher temperatures to speed up the process.

Tinman · Tar Sands Joined: May 07, 2006 Posts: 59

Look up Terra Preta.
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SpringCreekFarm · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 950

Wood ashes from hardwood is an excellent fertilizer and can help sweeten the soil and reduce acidity. I've been using it for years. I usually put a light dusting on the soil in the autumn when I'm putting my garden beds up for the winter. I then mulch over top to soften the harshness of winter.

vtsnowedin · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 11, 2008 Posts: 633

Many Vermont towns have a potash road where in colonial times maple ashes were leached and the leachate boiled down to make potash. U.S. Patent Number 1 was issued to a Vermonter for an improved process that increased yields and purity of the product.