[Terrapreta] biochar and no-till

[Tom Miles]

All,

 

I have forwarded this thread to biochar at yahoogroups.com list. Please
continue it ther. 

 

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/

 

 

Thanks

 

Tom Miles

 

From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Chisholm
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 2:37 PM
To: May Waddington
Cc: Terra Preta; greg nagle
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] biochar and no-till

 

Dear May

 

How do you propose to grind or pulverize your charcoal? What approximate
size range are you targeting?

 

Applying fine dry charcoal would be a messy job, with probable driftage
losses. You may wish to consider making a slurry with water, and then
spraying the water/charcoal mix. Alternatively, you may wish to consider
making your mulch very moist, and then pre-mixing the charcoal powder with
the mulch, and then apply the mulch on the ground surface.

 

Best wishes,

 

Kevin

----- Original Message ----- 

From: May Waddington <mailto:may.waddington at gmail.com>  

To: Kevin <mailto:kchisholm at ca.inter.net>  Chisholm 

Cc: Etelvino <mailto:etelvino.novotny at gmail.com>  Henrique Novotny ; Terra
Preta <mailto:Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>  ; greg nagle
<mailto:gnagle2000 at yahoo.com>  

Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 6:21 PM

Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] biochar and no-till

 

Just another thought... we have established a policy at BD farm that we will
mulch, mulch and mulch. This is very different from local traditional
practice. Locals "clean" the sandy soil at least twice a year... maybe the
charcoal beneath the mulch will be protected from strong winds....

2008/7/1 May Waddington <may.waddington at gmail.com>:

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 <mailto:etelvino.novotny at gmail.com>  

To: lou <mailto:lou.gold at gmail.com>  gold 

Cc: Terra Preta <mailto:Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>  ; greg
<mailto:gnagle2000 at yahoo.com>  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
Embrapa Solos
Rua Jardim Botânico, 1024
CEP 22460-000
Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil
Tel: (+55) 21 2179-4599
Mobile: (+55) 21 8545-1170
Res: (+55) 21 3411-8802
Fax: (+55) 21 2274-5291

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