[Terrapreta] Grain Farms - Nitrous Oxide - Biochar Talk

[Duane Pendergast]

We cleared land that way on the farm I was raised on in Alberta. I don't
recall an enhanced growth effect along the rows of burnt brush. That does
not mean it wasn't there. I just don't remember.

 

I posted a short story of comment on my website pertaining to such clearing
in northern Alberta. It's at;

 

http://www.computare.org/commentary.htm  under the subtitle >September 6,
2006.

 

I add to it that oil companies exploiting the oil sands in Northern Alberta
might be well advised to take some heed of this now rapidly developing
interest in terra preta. They are facing a massive job of land reclamation
and could perhaps combine that with R&D to explore the value of the terra
preta concept there. If global warming is really coming that area could
become much more attractive for farming in future decades.

 

Duane Pendergast

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Barry Batchelor
Sent: May 29, 2007 9:46 PM
To: terra
Subject: [Terrapreta] Grain Farms - Nitrous Oxide - Biochar Talk

 

Hi All

 

A Friend of mine told me when he worked on a grain farm many years ago 

they cleared large areas of forest pushing them into long rows which 

were burnt, then they plowed the ash and char into the ground in the 

same spot, every year after that he noticed a doubling of grain where 

the ash and char was plowed into the ground, he said he never noticed a 

reduction of this effect over the years he worked on this property. He 

thought it was the ash content but after talking over the subject 

started to think about the biochar effects, I would love to go have a 

dig around that paddock now. Talking to grain farmers who cleared by 

this method might be a good source to check to see how straight charcoal 

lasts in modern chemical agricultural soils.

 

One of the things that came up at the IAC was the large reduction in 

nitrous oxide from soil once Biochar had been added, you don't hear much 

reporting about nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. What little I do know 

about it, it's a big issue like CO2. Please correct me if I'm wrong but 

I remember hearing something along the lines of a 40% reduction, anyone 

have more details on amounts of Biochar versus reduction of nitrous oxide??

 

Anyone live close to the Sunshine Coast (Australia)? New Zealand's 

famous Dr Alfred Harris and myself will be putting together a talk with 

Permaculture Groups, Organic/Biodynamic farmers and anyone else who is 

interested in coming along, At this stage the talk will be on either the 

16th or 17th of June, I will post full details once I have them. We may 

also have another specialist coming from Sydney too. (it's not prime 

time, it's grass roots)

 

Barry Batchelor

www.Biochar.net

 

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