Soil & Combustion - Unusual Work Situation

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    Combustion Soil
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around an unusual incident involving a plastic planter filled with store-bought soil that appeared to be smoking without visible flames. Participants explore the possibility of spontaneous combustion in dried soil and the effects of organic material decomposition, while also considering external factors that could have contributed to the situation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that if the soil contained a high amount of organic material undergoing decomposition, it could potentially lead to combustion.
  • Another participant notes that the combination of sun exposure and heat from decomposition can ignite dry compost, and mentions that pouring water may have increased smoke due to steam.
  • A humorous comment speculates about the soil being part of a delivery to Area 51, introducing a light-hearted tone to the discussion.
  • Concerns are raised about the possibility of a cigarette being discarded in the planter, which could have ignited the dry vegetation.
  • One participant acknowledges that their boss may have interacted with a potential cigarette, indicating uncertainty about whether it was present.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various hypotheses regarding the cause of the smoke, including spontaneous combustion and external ignition sources, but no consensus is reached on the exact cause of the incident.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the presence of organic material and the effects of decomposition, but do not clarify the specific composition of the store-bought soil or the conditions that led to the incident.

TheStatutoryApe
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I had an interesting situation at work. One of the Faculty has a very large plastic planter filled with store bought soil. It has appearantly been sitting outdoors unused for quite some time and has become incredibly dried out with some dry dead plant material still mixed in.
Yesterday there was smoke wafting up from the soil. Something was definitely burning in there but there were no flames and there wasn't any material directly on top that appeared to be burning. I poured a bottle of water I had near by on it, approximately a liter, and then thought that it may not have been the best idea. The water seemed to boil as it went into the soil and there was a loud hissing noise. After wetting the soil smoke was still coming up from under it.
I was wondering if it is possible for soil to spontaneously combust if dried out and left to sit in the sun. I understand that there are a number of additives in store bought soil but have no idea what they are or how they would react.
 
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If it was high enough in organic material that was decomposing, I guess that would do it. Have you ever noticed how hot peat feels?
 
Yep, that's one of the natural ways forest fires can begin too. The combination of the sun and heat from decomposition can be enough to start the dry compost on fire (all the dead, dried plant material burns easily too). Pouring water on it probably didn't make it any worse, just didn't help either. Once you got it wet, it got smokier plus the steam rising from the water.
 
Whoops! I think that might have been one of the bags that was supposed to be delivered here, to us at Area 51.
 
zoobyshoe said:
Whoops! I think that might have been one of the bags that was supposed to be delivered here, to us at Area 51.
:smile:

As I thought about it more, was there any sign of a cigarette in the planter? If it was outside, someone who needed to put out a cigarette before entering the building might have just dumped it in an old, obviously unused planter if no ashtray was nearby and that could have ignited the vegetation in the planter.
 
zoobyshoe said:
Whoops! I think that might have been one of the bags that was supposed to be delivered here, to us at Area 51.
Wasn't the "special soil" that we were supposed to get last wednesday?! Call the sargent! That was supposed to feul our all natural aircraft!

OMG..I told everyone our plans[/size]

oh! area fifty one? nope, don't go there... :rolleyes:
 
Moonbear said:
As I thought about it more, was there any sign of a cigarette in the planter? If it was outside, someone who needed to put out a cigarette before entering the building might have just dumped it in an old, obviously unused planter if no ashtray was nearby and that could have ignited the vegetation in the planter.
I didn't see one but my boss had already tried putting it out so he may have done something with it if there was one.
Thank you all. I should probably e-mail the faculty member about this.
 
Evo said:
Have you ever noticed how hot peat feels?

Generally I don't make it a habit of feeling guys named Pete, no matter how "hot" they are. :biggrin:
 
DocToxyn said:
Generally I don't make it a habit of feeling guys named Pete, no matter how "hot" they are. :biggrin:
That's what she named your turtle.
 

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