Yes, I'm not messing with the 40% concentration.
Nor am I going to try this. My tilling in std amendments
is my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Thanks for your reply David, and others too.


David Hare-Scott wrote:

"jhultman" wrote in message
...

Co-worker was asking me how my back felt after last weekends
marathon double dig session. Then proceeded to tell me he read
that one could obtain forty percent peroxide in gallon quantities
from a beauty supply shop. Dilute that down to eight percent and
condition the soil. Said plants will grow faster, healthier etc. etc.

I'm inclined to think it might kill of microbes and worms.

I'm definitely not going to do this. I amending the soil with all the
good
stuff.
Compost, mulch, composted manure and feel this will be more than
adequate.

But was wondering if this is snake oil or not.

Chemistry and I were not very good acquaintances back in the day.

Almost drying up here in the South SF Bay.
Off to the recycling center for more compost at lunch time. The
soil still clumps together.

Should have that compost tilled in and ready to plant this weekend.
Seed sprouts are now begging for their plot.

Jeff

Hydrogen peroxide is an unstable oxidising agent, it decomposes into
oxygen and water. As it decomposes it may bleach colours by oxidising
pigments to non coloured compounds and kill microbes too. Diluted to
about 2-3% it was used as a topical antiseptic to clean minor wounds etc
but this is not recommended much these days as it can damage tissue even
at that strength. At 8% it will certainly kill many micobes and
probably kill other small things like worms too, why would you want to
disinfect your soil?

At high concentrations it is quite dangerous and unstable, a spill of
40% on you or your clothes would be quite harmful. I have no information
here but my *guess* is that it would not be handled in that
concentration in the beauty industry as there is no need, the strongest
solution commonly found is around 10%. I wouldn't handle a large amount
of 40% unless I was wearing protective clothing and goggles and had a
safety shower handy. At very high concentrations it has been used as
rocket fuel - I kid you not.

It produces none of the common NPK minerals or trace elements. Plants do
require oxygen (they transpire as well as photosynthesise) so the oxygen
from peroxide (at low concentrations) *might* help roots similar to the
way the availability of air round the roots helps hydroponics but it
might not be harmless either. Here is a page that says it works:

http://ma.essortment.com/howtooxygenate_pjy.htm

Note that the starting concentration is not specified, which suggests a
rather haphazard approach and little understanding by the author. If
you start with the 2-3% solution you can buy from the local pharmacy and
diluted beyond that according to this article you would be applying it
at about 1/2 % not 8%. I think you would be better off working on good
aeration of your soil by more traditional methods unless you can get
more precise information. And play with 40% peroxide only if you have
good insurance.

David