[Terrapreta] Terra preta 101

[Robert Flanagan]

Hey Guys,

Just a quick one on the charcoal temp "*It does not have to be low temp*"
this is a misunderstanding. This year I did my trials with 500C ricehull
char and I had a very positive result.

I've added some pictures of the field trial results to the youtube clip to
show the effects of biochar + foliar nutrients (NOTE: No soil fertilizer
used)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpozW9039_o .

And as for $1-2000T, I'm not sure who's quoting prices like that but I'm
very sure this will only drive farmers to make their own biochar with or
with out all the safety guidelines.

Rob.



On 9/20/07, Michael Bailes <michaelangelica at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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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>



-- 
Robert Flanagan
Chairman & President
Hangzhou Sustainable Agricultural Food & Fuel Enterprise Co., Ltd.

Skype "saffechina"
Tel:   86-571-881-850-67
Cell:  86-130-189-959-57
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