GAS-L: Tree fertilizing...

[Reedtb2@cs.com]

Dear KS et al:

I was interested in your comments on deep rooted plants.  Living in New 
England and walking in her forests, I often come opon "root holes" left by 
trees blown down in the 1939 hurricane.  These trees must put roots in to 
previously unrooted soils, so must be able to "extracT" potassium phosphorus 
and other minerals that shallow rooted plants need but don't make from 
complex clays.  Clays are a rich source of potassium, but it is very 
difficult to remove.

I have wondered whether treest therefore do in fact extract minerals that 
shallow rooted plants need but can't generate.  

I hope some botanist/biologist will know some facts in this area.  Meanwhile, 
plant more trees.....

Yours truly,                                TOM REED                            
                        BEF

In a message dated 5/31/00 11:26:24 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
kssustain@provide.net writes:

<< 
      To Denny Haldeman   I think it is crucial to stop forest fires and 
start burning wood because wood and other deep rooted plants may be the only 
way we can retrieve potassium and phosphorus fertilizers from the soil. I am 
hoping that ultimately scientists may be able to figure out how to get these 
chemicals from sea water. In a time of desperation, people will burn forests 
in wood stoves and fireplaces anyhow. By burning wood in Cogeneration and 
Comanufacturing facilities, only in Winter, the efficiency of wood burning 
can probably be improved by a factor of three over a woodstove and the 
pollution can be greatly improved. Environmentalists have made a negative 
contribution to Sustainability by emphasizing pollution control so much that 
consumption and carbon dioxide have been ignored. It is crucial that we plant 
billions of trees right now. It is also important to start burning waste 
materials.
 >>
    
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