[Terrapreta] CO2

[bakaryjatta]

Greetings to all esteemed list members.

The list is so active that it is very difficult to digest all the
submissions. There has been a request for a simple recipe of producing and
applying TP. Very good if that becomes a focus. Most of the world's people
would probably do something about sequestering CO2, increased food
production, and conserve the planet's environent, if they are aware of the
urgency and magnitude of the problem to start with and if they have the
means to do so.

At least the list members have  the opportunity to be more informed. Having
a different focus and possible entrenched ideas may delay coming up with
some of the simple answers that are available for doing something big, or
small, as individuals.

As an individual I am not in a position to produce tons of biochar, but I do
produce some by pyrolisis using a 200 liter drum. A piece of pipe at the
bottom lets the volatile gasses provide the heat to continue the process
after starting with an external fuel supply. My feed stock is agricultural
waste and the trimmings from a modified agroforestry system. Don't ask for
proof or research results, my mind is made up that my trees are using up
some CO2 and continue to do so as I keep trimming them.

Then we have this problem of soil erosion and leaching plus a host of other
problems. Soil erosion is checked by using Vetiver grass on properly spaced
low contour bunds.
This grass has been successfully used world wide and the technology is
simple for any normal person to apply. The roots grow straight down to a
depth of 3 meters. It sequesters CO2 continously and increasingly from three
months after the first establishment. It probably out-performs trees but I
am not going to argue if anyone says no.
Of course, as it filters the runoff water, it deposits the debris and
topsoil from the higher ground and thereby increases soil fertility and
multiplies soil organisms. Don't ask for proof, I am observing it
personally. Not the micro size, but I like those worms!

Now remains the leaching and losing all that water into the soil in a matter
of minutes after a cloud burst. Organic material seems to melt away quickly
during the rainy season. In the dry season the termites take care of the
rougher stuff. Some of the mulch like the Vetiver grass lasts longer. No
doubt the mineral content of the effluent from the Biogas digester also
leaches out but the soil organisms must be protected from high heat and
drought. Some species of living mulch may survive the dry season and
termites. But I think I have to make biochar production a priority if I want
a long term improvement on this site. Just warn me if there is proof that
there is any danger of applying bio char. I doubt I will be able to overdose
the soil with it at my level of production.

Now doing all this is very time consuming and my neighbors are definitely
going to spend the extra time and energy doing this unless there is a
significant increase of production noticeable. Anyone with money here will
hire the tractor and apply the chemical fertilizer. They want results now
and even if they know the long term consequence, they are not likely to
change. I hope the members of the list are going to come up with answers
that are applicable to the peasants of the world and deliver the message to
them as well. There are sooo many of them. Their number can make a
difference to the planet. Personally I don't think the 'developed world'
will as they are tied up with the world economic system that leaves the
'poor' outside looking in.

I hope our friend from Swaziland gets good advice. Nice country there, would
not want it to get sacrificed too like most of the third world.

Bakary Jatta
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