[Terrapreta] Biomass sources for Terra Preta charcoal (the old vs. the new)

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Lou,

Oh, I do agree.  I think that the potential threat of deforestation of the tropics with the mention of "tropical hardwoods trees is the classic source for charcoal" is severe.  We have to use agricultural wastes.  These are the carbons that nature is not already naturally "fixing".  The ag wastes will decompose and gas off unless they are converted into "fixed carbon" in the form of charcoal.

The agricultural wastes also are on the site where the charcoal product will be applied.  I think it is more economical to convert waste biomass on site and apply it on site than to be shipping anything (biomass feedstock) anywhere.

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: lou gold<mailto:lou.gold at gmail.com> 
  To: Sean K. Barry<mailto:sean.barry at juno.com> 
  Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 5:03 AM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] PRIVATE MESSAGE


  Hi Sean,

  That's what I suspected. There may have been corn there a long time ago. Indigenous populations were known for spreading their 'treasures' widely through gatherings and exchanges that drew people from great distances. The range of maize is an interesting question independent of possible. conversion to char. I was curious. 

  Now, as a 'tree guy', I do recoil a bit from the quick response that says, "no, it was tropical hardwoods that they used." I suspect that they actually used all the biomass from burning their forest and agricultural landscapes. I have no idea what percentage of the resulting char would be from tropical hardwoods. This feels quite important to me because I'm resisting a possible interpretation that gives yet another reason for more deforestation. Looking at it from Brazil, the critical contemporary question for me is, "where will the char come from?" I would love it if the answer turns out to be waste. I don't want it to be from trees unless perhaps according to some kind of a coppice system. 

  BTW, there is a big industry of making charcoal from wood in Brazil. Indeed, charcoal fuels the substantial steel industry here. In recent years there has a been a 'greening' shift from deforestation to giant plantations of Eucalyptus as a source of feedstock for the charcoal industry. 

  All best,

  lou

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