[Terrapreta] Resilience of charcoal in soil

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Jim,
  Two, charcoal has the potential to persist in the soil for much longer than the raw biomass.
We don't know that. You're speculating.

I think it is known.  Many of the soil science people on this list have stated this.  It is well known that raw "composted" biomass can decompose and gases off as CO2 and or Methane-CH4 in a relatively short period of time (circa 10 years).  Charcoal does not decompose like this.  It is not water soluble and not digestible by microbes.  It is practically chemically inert in even active living topsoil.  There is charcoal in some of the Amazon Terra Preta formations (in the topsoil), which has been carbon-dated to 2500 BC.  That's 4500 years old!  I do think charcoal has much greater resilience in soil than raw biomass.  I'm sure there are a number of cites in the library materials at the 'terrapreta.bioenergylists.org' website that claim this and could support this.

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jim Joyner<mailto:jimstoy at dtccom.net> 
  To: Terrapreta preta<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 7:57 AM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] a braoder theory of torrefaction and TP


  Sean K. Barry wrote: 

    Two, charcoal has the potential to persist in the soil for much longer than the raw biomass.
  We don't know that. You're speculating.   
    Jim
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