[Terrapreta] biochar and no-till

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Etelvino

Lou asks a very important question. 

If the char was spread on the surface, how could it get "migrated" to depth without tilling?

At the present, I can see only two possible mechanisms:
1: Being ingested by earthworms, and being discharged at depth
2: Powered charcoal being washed down earthworm holes or burrows.

If earthworm ingestion was a mechanism, how finely ground would the charcoal have to be, for the earthworms to ingest it? 

Do earthworms deposit any of their castings below the surface, or do they bring them to the surface and deposit them there?

Can you see any other mechanisms that could get a significant quantity of char to depth, other than possibly earthworms, or the results of their activity?

Best wishes,

Kevin 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Etelvino Henrique Novotny 
  To: lou gold 
  Cc: Terra Preta ; greg nagle 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 12:06 PM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] biochar and no-till


  Dear Lou, I didn't make a revision on the subject or some experiment,
  but I suggest the application of the fine grounded charcoal together
  with some cultural practice, for example seedling or fertilizer. May
  be the concomitant application of charcoal with fertilizer (no-till
  system) could add the beneficial effect of decrease nutrient lost,
  mainly N...

  All the best, Etelvino.

  2008/6/29 lou gold <lou.gold at gmail.com>:
  > Can someone direct me to to articles that explain how
  > biochar is applied to the soils without tilling? I'm
  > interested in the application process for both farm
  > and forest contexts.
  >
  > Thanks,
  >
  > lou
  >



  -- 
  Etelvino Henrique Novotny
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