root-drowned fruit tree
The answer
what are the measurements/ratio?I'd follow Master Cho's potting soil mix
- 30% cinder
- 30% imo4
- 30% leaf mold soil
- 10% biochar
should the two be pre-fermented together and for how long?"Charging" BioChar before agricultural use is recommended by top experts in the field. I have heard one recommend composting it with at least 2% fish meal or comparable nitrogen source and letting it heat up and naturally cool down. This functionalizes the charcoal and that has many benefits. see Josiah Hunt on Local Natural Farming Inputs
do I add anything else to the mix?Love. Love must always be added to the mix!
From the KNF library
The library does not describe the four-hole method. It gives a drip-line ring for orchard trees, and it says not to bury IMO. (Cho's Solutions, p. 14)
- Make a 2 ft wide ring around the drip line. (Cho's Solutions, p. 14)
- Per 100 sq ft, spread 5 lb IMO4 and 3 lb biochar in week 1, with 5 gallons of water. Water 5 gallons again each week through week 4. (Cho's Solutions, p. 14)
- Use functionalized biochar. Lightly cover with mulch once spread. (Cho's Solutions, p. 14)
The biochar goes in when IMO4 is made. Break up the IMO3, mix in 10 L of biochar, then mix that 1:1 with soil. (Unravelling the Mysteries of KNF, p. 59) The pile sits another 5 days. (Unravelling the Mysteries of KNF, p. 59) Pre-inoculate any mulch with IMO4. (KNF Demystified, p. 16)
For a drowning tree, Drake says to dig out the amendments packed into the planting hole and open airspace so roots get oxygen. (Office Hours Ep. 131, 17:41)
The library gives no hole-fill ratio and no fermenting time for a biochar and IMO4 mix. It does not say how much IMO3 goes with the 10 L of biochar. This chart is a soil-foundation recipe and does not name drowned roots.
Sources
- 17:41 Office Hours Ep. 131 (Jun 2024) — Fish & IMO Pasture Remediation, Dead Avocado Revival, Jadam Interview · “dig out the amendments packed into the planting hole and open airspace so roots get oxygen”
- p. 16 KNF Demystified · “pre- inoculate the mulch (carbon) with IMO4.”
- p. 14 Cho's Solutions · “• Do not bury IMO”
- p. 59 Unravelling the Mysteries of KNF · “In a bucket, break up the IMO 3 (entire inoculated pile of wheat mill run) so that there are no large pieces (Figure 5b). Mix in 10 L of biochar (Figure 5c).”
