[Terrapreta] a braoder theory of torrefaction and TP

[Greg and April]

Let's also keep in mind, that while methane is a stronger greenhouse gas, it's life expectancy in the atmosphere is about 12 yrs, before it breaks down into CO2 and H2O.    OTOH, CO2 is believed to have a life expectancy exceeding 120 yrs.

Greg H.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sean K. Barry 
  To: still.thinking at computare.org ; 'Jim Joyner' 
  Cc: 'Terrapreta preta' 
  Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 20:55
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] a braoder theory of torrefaction and TP


  Hi Duane, Jim,

  You've made a super good point here!  Methane-CH4 from buried wood would be an absolutely important issue.  A volume Methane gas-CH4 has the same global warming potential as 25 times that volume of CO2 over a 100 year period and the same global warming potential as 72 time that volume of CO2 or 20 years.  As the buried wood decomposes it will release Methane.

  Here is maybe an interesting idea, though.  Suppose wood is buried and kept wet and warm under the subsoil.  Then, like a landfill, it is sealed from below and it is integrated with pipes from above.  This "wood-fill" could be then treated like a source of natural gas.  What would you think of that?  Of course, as you harvest the Methane, you would reduce the carbon storage and the ground would eventually subside.

  Regards,

  SKB
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Duane Pendergast 
    To: 'Jim Joyner' 
    Cc: 'Terrapreta preta' 
    Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 9:29 PM
    Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] a braoder theory of torrefaction and TP


    Good thoughts there Jim, but it would likely perform similarly to  a landfill. Those tend to generate methane which we are told is a much more effective greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.  Charcoal might be a good substitute for some of the goals you mention and seemingly would avoid the methane production.



    Duane



    -----Original Message-----
    From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org [mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Jim Joyner
    Sent: December 10, 2007 7:47 PM
    Cc: Terrapreta preta
    Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] a braoder theory of torrefaction and TP



    You know, We've all been looking at the sexier uses of various forms of burned wood in the top soil, but if you want a cheap way to sequester carbon, burying sawdust or chips in the subsoil accomplishes the same thing (burying charcoal below the topsoil makes no economic sense, serves little or no purpose). It  works because there is little or no biological activity in the subsoil.

    I don't know how long it lasts but it gotta be at least decades. But it might be forever. I was always involved with the farming side, not the research, but I know of experiments that were started 25 to 30 years ago in Missouri. They took sawdust, mixed it with subsoil and buried it as much as six feet deep in long trenches. The purpose was to give certain deep rooted perennials (grapes, in this case) more root room and create a moisture reservoir. 

    The moisture reservoir is a good idea for not only plants but for good water shed. And, it buries a lot carbon waste product that doesn't need to be processed.

    There are even less invasive ways to bury woody material in the subsoil too. For example, I subsoil my beds for annuals to about 3 feet. I balance the subsoil by adding limestone (I built a device that subsoils and adds lime at the same time. Not all soils need the lime) so that it will be lose not only physically but electrically. Then, every year a crop sends a new set of roots down and leaves them behind. The blackness of the soil gets deeper and darker every year. The water holding capacity of the subsoil increases every year. 

    Jim

    Gerald Van Koeverden wrote:



    I like your idea....we 'soils peoples'  have to broaden our scope of interest from 'biochar' to the whole range of "torrefied wood".  Let me try to build a new 'theory."



    Torrefaction does something to the wood so that it lasts much longer in the soil than non-torrefied wood.  What happens in torrefaction?  "This process removes all naturally occurring resins, sugars and oxygens while collapsing the cells. This accomplishes two things: First, it gives the lumber a deep, rich brown color...Second, and more importantly, it alters the wood to make it extremely stable, moisture resistant and decay resistant."



    This extended life effect is not just because it drives out enough moisture to inhibit decomposing organisms, but it also provides a suitable habitat for non-decomposing soil-dwelling organisms - not dependant on as high moisture contents - which in turn protect their habitat from rapid decomposition.  If these MO don't completely inhibit decomposition, they at least have a significant effect in slowing that process down.  It is the biological activity of these micro-organisms inhabiting the torrefied wood, which increases the fertility of those soils and make TP's what they are.

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