[Terrapreta] Abstract on Charcoal in soil

[Saibhaskar Nakka]

Dear All,

The present ongoing discussions are very useful and relevant to my present
plan to treat Alkaline Soils with application of Terra Preta
http://e-alkalinesoilsterrapreta.blogspot.com/
, yesterday I had been to Kothur Village, a V & A Programme village in
Semi-arid environment (for more information see
http://e-charcoalmaking.blogspot.com/). I explained the farmers regarding
the use and application of Terra Preta for treating the alkaline soils.
Before that some char pieces were brought for demonstrating the use and good
qualities of char.  Using the high resolution imageries of Google the fields
with intense alkaline soils were identified.  From those selected areas four
farmers have come forward to try this method in their half to one acre size
fields. Regarding the application, as there is abundant availability of
Prosopis in the village, this is an easy method for them. The logistics and
the cost of char was discussed, they were able to sell char @Rs. 0.2$ (USD)
per kg. For applying about 1500 kgs of Char per acre, it would cost them
about Rs. 300$ (USD). Which seems to be on the higher side for the poor
farmers, so another alternative was making charcoal from the thin stems of
Prosopis a wasted product in the charcoal making process and there was
plenty of such dry twigs / stems of Prosopis available. Some farmers in the
recent past trying to reclaim their Prosopis lands have used machinery and
there are lots of heavy uprooted root stocks, with soil attached. They are
burning such root stocks in the respective fields. This kind of burnt
material consists of

   1. partial biochar
   2. Char,
   3. well burnt soil and
   4. plenty of ash

The farmers have agreed to put this resultant material in their fields,
which is of no cost and available in plenty. I am only hopeful that the
above resultant material is acidic and would improve the soil quality. As
the farmers have not started the process yet, the timely advice from you all
would be helpful.

The Link for photographs and above content:

http://e-alkalinesoilsterrapreta.blogspot.com/


Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy


On 5/16/07, Christoph Steiner <Christoph.Steiner at uni-bayreuth.de> wrote:
>
> Dear Kevin,
>
> Terra Preta fertility is the result of increased nutrient availability
> (mainly phosphorus and calcium), lower pH and acidity, and soil biological
>
> Best wishes,
> Christoph
>
> >
> > Dear Michael
> >
> >
> > I might be missing something, but doesn't this test seem to test the
> > benefits of soil nutrients rather than the benefits of Terra Preta?
> >
> >
> > Kevin
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Michael Bailes wrote:
> >
> >> Abstract  Application of organic fertilizers and charcoal increase
> >> nutrient stocks in the rooting zone of crops, reduce nutrient leaching
> >>


-- 
Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy
Mobile No. 9246352018
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