Is used charcoal good for fertilizer?

Question

Someone told me I could use charcoal to fertilize my pear, plum, and peach trees. I wanted to know more info before I did this.

Answer 1

"The wide spread use of charcoal as a fertilizer media on which plant nutrients can be absorbed has a long history in Japan and Asia. Historical large-scale use of charcoal in the Amazon produced sustainable agriculture, which lasted for thousands of years until the arrival of Europeans. The renewal of this practice could offer substantial opportunities for long-term removal of the carbon from the atmospheric pool. New methods for charcoal manufacture allow the cost effective production of hydrogen, bio-oil and other co-products from agricultural, forestry, and waste biomass. Additionally charcoal holds out the promise of being able to scrub carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide from fossil fuel exhaust while simultaneously producing a nitrogen enriched carbon fertilizer and fuel cell grade hydrogen. "
Short answer, yes, but in my experience it depends on what type of soil you currently have. If you have really dark black almost clay-like soil, I would say definitely. If it's really sandy soil, then dont bother.

Answer 2

NO. It's quite alkaline and can cause problems. It doesn't have a whole lot of nutrient value anyway.

Answer 3

no it isnt