[Terrapreta] "Living" Biochar

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Sean

A characteristic of a "living system" is that it can reproduce itself.

I cannot see how biochar can reproduce itself, and I thus feel that 
biochar is not a living system, any more than a house is a living system 
because it is a nice place for people to live.

Perhaps I am missing something. Why do you feel biochar is living, or alive?

Kevin

Sean K. Barry wrote:
> Hi Kevin,
>  
> Have you ever heard of a buffering agent?  Buffering agents are part of 
> lots of living biological systems.  The bicarbonate ion (HC03-) is a 
> buffering agent.  It can absorb or release hydrogen-H, thus being able 
> to change the pH of solutions containing it.  This is a very common 
> chemical reaction inside living systems, both plant and animal.  It 
> comes from and still exists in very primitive animals and plants, even 
> single cells.  There are other catalytic reactions that carbon molecule 
> are related to, also.  All that a bicarbonate ion is is some carbon, 
> some water, and oxygen.  Carbon and water alone are sometimes even 
> equated with life.  Because most all living things we know about on 
> Earth, pretty much need both.
>  
> I think carbon in soil is a "living" part of a bigger living 
> "biosphere".  It can just have a very long residence time in the soil, 
> whereas the other carbon in living systems is going to move around 
> within the biosphere.
>  
> Regards,
>  
> SKB
> 
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* Kevin Chisholm <mailto:kchisholm at ca.inter.net>
>     *To:* Sean K. Barry <mailto:sean.barry at juno.com>
>     *Sent:* Thursday, August 30, 2007 11:28 PM
>     *Subject:* Re: [Terrapreta] Sustained Biochar
> 
>     Dear Sean
> 
>     Sean K. Barry wrote:
>      > Hi Kevin,
>      > 
>      > What makes you think the carbon that would be in charcoal that
>     was put
>      > in the soil would be "removed" from the active biosphere?
> 
>     The "Biosphere" is generally defined as "... those parts of the air,
>     water and land where biological activity takes place..."
> 
>     Charcoal acting as TP is within this "Biosphere envelope". However, the
>     carbon in the charcoal per se is not taking an active part in the
>     biological and physical processes, like nutrients, but rather as a
>     catalyst, or a physical location for a biological happening.
>      > 
>     Best wishes,
> 
>     Kevin