[trichrider]

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=331317

check this thread before rebuilding your soil, it has some great information.
and...

Changes in Properties of Composting Rice Husk and Their Effects on Soil and Cocoa Growth

Markus Anda , S. R. Syed Omar , J. Shamshuddin & C. I. Fauziah
Abstract

The worldwide production of rice husk, a by‐product and agrowaste that causes serious environmental problems, may reach 116 million t y−1. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the physicochemical changes of rice husk and its structural chemistry during composting using 13carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) and (ii) to determine the effect of the composted rice husk (CRH) on the properties of Oxisol and cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) growth under glasshouse conditions. Results showed an active composting phase occurred at the first 53 days as revealed by high carbon dioxide (CO2)‐C (40–71 µg g−1 h−1) production, followed by a matured composting phase occurring at 54–116 days as revealed by decreasing in CO2‐C production (10 µg g−1 h−1). The active composting was accompanied by increases in electrical conductivity (EC), pH, ammonium (NH4 +), and nitrate (NO3), whereas during the matured composting phase, the EC and cation exchange capacity increased but pH, NH4 +, and NO3 −1 decreased. The ash of the produced compost contains mainly calcium (Ca), potassium (K), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), and phosphorus (P) as essential nutrients. The CP/MAS 13C NMR spectra before and after various composting times indicated the dominance of sharp and well‐resolved signal peaks at O‐alkyl C and di‐O‐alkyl C regions (67–73%), which are characteristic of cellulose. The percentage of N‐alky/methoxyl was 23–26% whereas phenolic, carboxyl, and alkyl C types were less than 3% each. The application of the CRH to an Oxisol significantly increased soil pH and Ca, Mg, K, sodium (Na), and silicon (Si) ions of in situ soil solution but decreased the amounts of toxic ions [aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe)]. The CRH was found to increase cocoa growth up to 37%.

[bigbadbiddy]

Howdy and thanks for the feedback!

I am reading and researching constantly.

One tidbit I would like to share that I recently stumbled across:
I listened to the Pot Cast on Soundcloud, the build a soil episode with Jeremy, to be more exact.

Well wouldn't you know it, they spoke about buckwheat hulls as an aeration amendment/perlite replacement.
And Jeremy said that he used buckwheat hulls once before and while the first grow went without a hitch and all was fine, he got hit with the worst nitrogen deficiency ever in the second round.
More than that, he, like me, used buckwheat hulls that he sourced locally that are used to stuff pillows normally. He said maybe that was his mistake (and mine) but either way, he just went away from buckwheat hulls back then because he didn't want to deal with these issues and went to rice hulls instead (mixed with a pumice alternative, forgot which).

He says it might still be a suitable alternative but he would definitely supplement a shit ton of N if he were to use it again.


Case closed pretty much, was exactly what happened to me. Only I am further along now and the buckwheat hulls have composted even further and thus compacted the soil even more which leaves me with my current drainage issues.

Another interesting tidbit from the podcast was that Jeremy alternates between light top waterings, maybe 2 or 3 times and then 1 deep watering in between.
He says he never waters to runoff as we don't have to flush out salts in organics.

I will try to adopt this watering regimen as I have noticed my top soil layer needs to stay more moist to wash down the nutrients from the top-dressing as well as to support the cover crop.


Going forward trying this watering regiment and implementing teas with EWC, kelp, malted barley, molasses and either include some bone/bloodmeal in the teas or topdress them, as well as top-dress with some dolomite lime.

To round things off I will get 3 separate humidifiers and put one in each of the grow chambers. I would prefer to put 1 large unit in the lung room but am still too paranoid about running an electric heater and magnetic ballast in the same room that I run a humidifier...

I know I still need to post pics, just wanted to update with my findings...

My container size also seems to definitely be an issue. Jeremy said that over at build a soil they recommend no smaller than 15 gallon containers for organics/no-till.
I will probably recycle my soil after this round and re-amend it with either perlite or if I can find them, rice hulls and maybe pumice or the alternative Jeremy mentioned in the podcast.

Then I will consider moving to 15 gallon smart pots.
My problem with these is that if they are round, I severely limit my plant count. Currently prowling the web for square fabric pots in 15 gallon size
Maybe need to make them myself? Any tips welcome.