[Terrapreta] Terra preta 101

[Michael Bailes]

Kevin apologies not needed.
Sometimes my style reads a bit brusque but actually I only really get angry
about politics or religion.
In these cases I am always right; with Terra preta we are all learning

Now
I grew up in a pre-google world.
I am amazed that people can't use it as a research tool!
 You have no idea how time consuming research was in libraries with paper
journals, huge indexes  and pen & paper. It took days to find one relevant
article.
.
If I am brusque her forgive me I have been up 48 hours getting my daughter
to London
but a bit of spoon feeding seems necessary
To answer questions asked:-

   - Where to get the right charcoal

Try the phone book;. charcoal is charcoal;. the Amazonian Indians used
hardwood.
Make it youself see this list, hypography and stoves list.

   - What qualities to look for

Ideally look for charcoal made at low temps that retain bio-ois (c 350- 450
C)
Bio oils/resins encourage microbiological growth
Environmentally pyrolysis is the most environmentally friendly way of making
char.
Making yourself makes smoke (bad) and wastes energy
See some of the info on the IAI site (Esp. the poster presentations).
I was most amazed by the way they were making charcoal in western Australia
- not  the best way

   - What are reasonable costs

At the moment outrageous $1-2,000+ a tonne.
But you want to do your bit to sequester CO2 don't you?
Hopefully firms like BEST Energies will get some of their big pyrolysis is
systems on line then you would be looking at c$ AUS $150--$300 a tonne at
the site + transport costs

   - How much per acre

Depends a bit on your soil pH. The Japanese have along term 10 year
experiment going on Tea (Carmelia  trees). They have found applying 100g
grams, per tree, per square meter, per year; resulted in 40% better growth
after 4 years.
They will be posting more results as the experiment progresses. Apart from
archeological theory, speculation and intelligent guesses; long term studies
of Terra preta are thin on the ground
I would start with that amount and keep taking pH readings. You might find
they vary greatly over time
Charcoal will lower pH. Ash will lower it drastically

   - How to incorporate it into soil

Seems it's best not to disturb soil to much. The "wee beasties" don't like
there homes ripped up.

   - How to modify conventional fertilizer practices

Your soil should hold conventional fertilisers better. However it has been
found that some chemical fertilisers inhibit bacterial growth. So go organic
if you can . A high level of soil organic matter  (SOM) is important

   - How to manage for the long-term

Keep testing soil pH, start reducing chemical fertiliser, use as much
organic matter as you can lay your hands on. Anything that was once alive
will do.

   - How to assure effective microbial inoculation

This will happen naturally.but  you can buy soil "critters" especially from
big organic garden supplies
How much to use?  No one knows. The bugs are too numerous, the interactions
too dynamic and interrelated, and often the recalciterant bugs refuse to
grow in a lab petri dish
Soil critters are probably the greatest weight of life on the planet

   - *What are the national permit and legislation aspects*

You can look this up. Why should there be legislation?
If anyone objects tell them you had a persticde spill and are soaking it up
with charcoal!
(See the product "Pick Up" from Barmac)

   - *What are the application follow up control practices*

Remember that there are at least three sides to Terra preta - the clay, SOM,
and Char. All three are needed.
Have a look at my posts on clay (& zeolite)

   - *What are the comprehensive environmental and human health safety
   aspects* (life cycle analyses)

Well you can eat charcoal, you can't eat fertiliser.
Environmentally you should save water and reduce fertilser run-off into
creeks and rivers
You also sequester CO2 probably for a lot longer than pumping it back down
gas or oil holes.

Now I'm going to bed..
Happy researching


-- 
Michael the Archangel
Moderator TP list
"You can fix all the world's problems in a garden. . . .
Most people don't know that"
FROM
http://www.blog.thesietch.org/wp-content/permaculture.swf
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