[Terrapreta] TP theft.

[lou gold]

Hi Everyone,

Here is my source:

http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/day2004
Evidence of terra preta's ability to
grow and sequester more carbon was undercovered by soil scientist
William Woods (U.Illinois). The work is still under investigation in
Brazil by over the last 20 years mining terra preta for potting soil
has not decreased its availability. Farmers have learned it recovers a
centimeter per year. The possibility those small fractions of char
continually migrate down, providing housing for microbes as they
process surface-cover biomass. The microbes and fungi live and die
inside the porous media increasing its carbon content. What are the
limits, we do not know but work at Cornell under the guidance of
Johannes Lehman and W. Zech, Bruno Glaser at the University of
Bayreuth (Germany) and Emprapa (Manus, Brazil) are investigating these
phenomena.

I believe there's even a little photo essay showing a guy with a TP "mining
operation"
but I couldn't locate it.

The reporters cited above are credible. As to whether it is scientifically
verifiable --
well, I'm just the storyteller. I dunno. Hopefully, you'll be able to make
an informed
judgement.

Thanks for your skepticism. It forces me to check my facts.

lou


On Nov 22, 2007 1:13 PM, Kevin Chisholm <kchisholm at ca.inter.net> wrote:

> Dear Lou
>
> lou gold wrote:
> > Hi Sean and All,
> >
> > Since Brazil is a poor place, especially in Amazonian rural areas, TP
> > most likely does get stolen.
> >
> > However, I recently saw something about "commercial mining" of it that
> > sounded very responsible. The guy extracted it but left the bottom
> > 20cm. It would grow "back to full depth" in 20 years. I'm suspecting
> > that eventually there will be specialty "nursery" plots growing "seed"
> > or "starter"  TP  for use in other locations, nearby and far away. .
> The above comment has enormous potential implications , if it is true.
> On the one hand,  it may simply be a lie told by a  devious Terra Preta
> Miner, (TPM)  so that people don't get worked up when he takes their
> irreplaceable Terra Preta. Given all that has been said on this list
> about the char requirement for Terra Preta formation, it is likely that
> the TPM is a blatant liar. :-)
>
>
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