[Terrapreta] biochar and no-till

[May Waddington]

In the experiment we are designing at the Buriti Doce farm, we are
definitedly counting on the rain to do the trick. The soil is rather sandy,
the weather is extremelly hot and dry at this time of the year. We are
planning to apply the char/mixed with organic materials just before the
rains come in, later on this year.  According to Kevins suggestion, the
finest we grind the char the better, uhn? Another reason for waiting on it:
dry months are very windy! It would blow away!

May



2008/7/1 Kevin Chisholm <kchisholm at ca.inter.net>:

>  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 <etelvino.novotny at gmail.com>
> *To:* lou gold <lou.gold at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* Terra Preta <Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> ; greg nagle<gnagle2000 at yahoo.com>
> *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
> Embrapa Solos
> Rua Jardim Botânico, 1024
> CEP 22460-000
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> Fax: (+55) 21 2274-5291
>
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