Experiments around the Milpa

posted in: Biochar, Companion planting

Also known as the three sisters, milpa is an ancestral crop association of corn, climbing beans and squash. Corn serves as a stake for the beans that climbs over it. The beans fix the nitrogen beneficial to the growth of corn. The squash covers the soil thus preserving moisture, which will improve maize yields. In addition, corn and beans are an extremely nutritious food pair. Milpa is an important part of Amerindian mythology.

This year at the Grand Potager, milpa was chosen to test the effectiveness of biochar.

Biochar is a material close to charcoal. It is obtained from the carbonization of plant residues, such as the cutting of branches, sawmill chips or straws of wheat or rice, for example. The combustion of these elements is obtained by pyrolysis, meaning, in the absence of oxygen. Once incorporated into the soil, biochar has the ability to improve soil fertility and store carbon.

This experiment allows to test its impact on 3 plants at the same time. For example, one foot of maize, one climbing bean and one squash were planted simultaneously in several different soil preparations combining, in various proportions, elements such as biochar, compost, hen droppings, dead leaves, straw, rainwater…..

Leave a Reply