3 replies to this topic

[MDH]

Hello,

I am trying to find a sort of chemical compound to be used during the tree growth process in order to make making more reactive charcoals.

Palownia trees come cheap here ($8 for small ones)

I am wondering what natural compounds makes charcoal so reactive - and if I can actually control those in the growing process of a palownia (12 months/20 feet. No kidding.) to make the most reactive charcoals possible when I take small twigs off.

If that is possible.

Gibberellic Acid, No?

Thanks.

-MDH

Edited by MDH, 07 August 2007 - 07:25 PM.

[YT2095]

I have planted dozens of trees and bushes, and the Best possible thing you can do is go to a local horse stables and find out when they`re going to clean them out, you want a few bags of horse muck delivered, you should really let this rot down for a year before using it.
dig your hole larger than the root ball and mix in some of this muck with the earth and plant into that!
give it a good top dressing also.

it`s free also

[MDH]

Thanks for that information, I'll take it into notes - however, I suppose my question would still be in direct regards as to what the flammable compounds are in wood and how I could almost quite deliberately feed and grow those compounds into the charcoal as ot get the hottest burning charcoals?

Thanks.

-MDH

[YT2095]

well, for a start a plant will Only take what it requires, so you can`t Really "force feed" it, you can only make sure that everything it`s likely to need is there.
this is where choosing the types of woods to use in charcoal is important.
also the only Flammable part should be Charcoal (Carbon), all the more volatile parts are driven off in the charcoal making process. however it IS an advantage to have a good level of Potassium salts in there.
I`ve done BP tests with pure Activated charcoal (ABA treated) and then the same after K2CO3 doping, the one with K carb was Much faster, in fact the Pure carbon charcoal was terrible!
also Low density charcoal is great too, I think you`ll find reading about on here that Balsa wood charcoal seems to be the King of BP charcoal to date

I`de advise you in the first few years not to give it anything Too rich in way of food, else you risk damaging the roots, wait until the tree is established properly and then you feed it plenty (within reason).

Edited by YT2095, 11 August 2007 - 09:10 AM.