[Terrapreta] CO2 -- request for

[Len Walde]

Hello Bakary:

You said: "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" .  Could you share a sketch or 
photo of your drum and how you fitted it?

Many thanks,

Len Walde


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bakary Jatta" <bjatta at gmail.com>
To: <terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 7:14 AM
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] CO2


> 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 so 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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