[Terrapreta] C02 Tree Capture - or miscanthus...
Gerald Van Koeverden
vnkvrdn at yahoo.ca
Wed Dec 5 21:25:36 EST 2007
Ash content of miscanthus: It's similar to switchgrass in that if
harvested in the fall, 2.5% ash; but if left for harvest into April,
only 1%
On 5-Dec-07, at 9:21 PM, Sean K. Barry wrote:
> Hi Gerrit,
>
> I think Miscanthus giganteus could be made into charcoal. It has a
> very high biomass yield per acre. It is a perennial grass. If it
> is dried and chopped, I do not see why it could not be carbonized
> using a pyrolysis reaction. I think it might make a very fine
> char. Fine, in the sense that it is small particulate size. I
> wonder if the ash content of the charcoal might be higher than
> chars made from other biomass (for instance oak, which has very low
> ash content)?
>
> Regards,
>
> SKB
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gerald Van Koeverden
> To: Terrapreta preta
> Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 4:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] C02 Tree Capture – or miscanthus...
>
> Lou,
>
> Here in Canada, it seems that researchers have practically given up
> on trees like poplar and willow for fuel (7-10 tons odm/acre) for
> our temperate climate; switchgrass hasn't caught on either. At
> present, the local buzz is about cold-tolerant varieties of
> miscanthus - 15 tons odm/acre. Either for directly heating
> vegetable greenhouses or for the 'imminent'(?) cellulose-to-
> ethanol route... Miscnathus stands can apparently produce for 30
> years after one planting with virtually no fertilization.
>
> Of course, this wouldn't produce charcoal, unless one is using
> pyrolysis as the treatment process. But even then, would first,
> the quality of char produced be good enough for long-term soil
> amendment? and secondly, the char would probably be sold for an
> industrial application anyways to maximize returns from investment...
>
> The only advantage of planting miscanthus for energy, would be its
> carbon-neutral status...
>
> Gerrit
>
> On 5-Dec-07, at 8:39 AM, lou gold wrote:
>
>> Oooops, I missed the "wood for charcoal question". This one is
>> complex and there is no way I can do it justice. Here are just a
>> few considerations...
>>
>> 1. Again, it is most paramount that primary forests are not cut
>> for this purpose.
>>
>> 2. Here in Brazil, eucalyptus is grown for charcoal on a huge
>> scale. It even fuels the iron foundries. This is what you do when
>> there is no cheap coal available. I am told told that there are
>> better and worse ways to do it. Cutting primary forests for the
>> first round of charcoal and replacing them with eucalyptus
>> plantations is a bad way. Vast eucalyptus monocultures are a bad
>> way. Placing eucalyptus stands as one of several crops in a
>> diversified farming operation is a good way.
>>
>> 3. I'm very uneasy about the new ethanol from cellulose approach
>> with genetically modified trees but I'm not qualified to have a
>> real intelligent judgment here.
>>
>> 4, I would vastly prefer to see wood wastes go into producing char
>> for the soil instead of for fuel or co-generation.
>>
>> OK, that's a start -- barely scratches the surface I'm sure.
>>
>> hugs, lou
>>
>>
>>
>> On Dec 5, 2007 11:14 AM, lou gold <lou.gold at gmail.com > wrote:
>> Hmmm. Did ya watch the video? It clearly states that soil and
>> water are the main limiting factors. Therefore, if you want to
>> have plants and trees pulling CO2 out of the atmosphere, you
>> better work on soil fertility and its ability to retain water.
>> Perfect tasks for TP.
>>
>> I don't consider myself as a spokesperson for the tree-huggers.
>> Actually, across the past year, Terra Preta maybe transforming my
>> awareness and ideology more toward conscious farming. The main
>> inspiration of TP for me is that the El Dorado story says that
>> once there was a civilization of high density populations living
>> in harmony with nature and forests. This is very contrary to the
>> history of western civilization which advanced via deforestation.
>> Indeed, it is so different that it might constitute a vitally
>> necessary paradigm shift and carry us from the issues of scarcity
>> into the joys of abundance. I don't know that this is true. I
>> suspect it might be. I want to find out.
>>
>> I believe strongly that we need to stop logging any more intact
>> primary forests. A complete halt is unlikely. All steps of avoided
>> or reduced deforestation need to be rewarded. Carbon credits are a
>> good way.
>>
>> As far as as intelligent forest management is concerned, I
>> recommend that you check out the Menominee Tribal Forest which has
>> won many awards and recognitions. http://www.menominee.edu/sdi/
>> RAndEMission.html
>>
>> hugs,
>>
>> lou
>>
>>
>> On Dec 5, 2007 10:12 AM, Kevin Chisholm <kchisholm at ca.inter.net >
>> wrote:
>> Dear David and Lou
>>
>> Most of us on the Terra Preta List have an "environmentally
>> responsible
>> leaning", a sense of beauty, and an appreciation of the good things a
>> tree can do. However, what I see is that extremism seldom works in an
>> optimal manner. Mother Nature is smart, and she seems to favor
>> diversity. It is absolutely impossible for Man to exist on this Earth
>> without interacting with Mother Nature. Either we get Divorced and
>> one
>> of us leaves, or we find ways that we can live on Earth in a
>> sustainable
>> basis. Otherwise, one of us will die, and the other will be seriously
>> injured.
>>
>> As Representatives of our "Resident Tree Huggers", what would you and
>> David recommend as tree cutting guidelines acceptable to the Tree
>> Huggers?
>>
>> Under what conditions would the Tree Hugging Community agree to using
>> wood as a source of carbon for Terra Preta?
>>
>> Kevin
>>
>> lou gold wrote:
>> > Good Morning to All,
>> >
>> > Another good one from ABC.
>> > http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1901661.htm
>> >
>> > I draw the lesson that if one wants trees and other plants to
>> capture
>> > carbon it's best to work on renewing the soil.
>> >
>> > hugs, lou
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ---
>> >
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> http://lougold.blogspot.com/
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/visionshare/sets/
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> http://lougold.blogspot.com/
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/visionshare/sets/
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