[Terrapreta] Black soil

[Sean K. Barry]

Hello TP readers,

Not that it matters, but is Terra Preta de Indio the ONLY man-made "Black Earth" (black soil) in the Amazon river basin?  Is Terra Preta man-made?

Does any other sort of black soil found on any other part of the Earth, or Mars, or the Moon have anything to do with understanding Terra Preta de Indio?  Why?

Does anyone suspect that we can improve the fertility of any black soil found anywhere with an amendment of man-made charcoal?

Does anyone in the group think any old black soil that could be found anywhere removes CO2 from the atmosphere and sequesters it as carbon in that black soil at a rate even close to the current human output of CO2 to the atmosphere?

What can we learn from finding any old Black soil anywhere that can help us form Terra Preta soils?

Why does this subject (any old Black Soil found anywhere) seem like a somewhat useless (although TOPICAL) discussion here and now?

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kurt Treutlein<mailto:rukurt at westnet.com.au> 
  To: 'Terrapreta'<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 5:47 PM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Black soil


  MFH wrote:
  >  Is there anyone on the list from New Zealand?
  >
  >  I've seen some of the richest and darkest soils there - because of
  >  high humus levels, proximity of volcanoes....?
  >
  >  Max H
  >

  Then there is the black soil of the Darling Downs in Queensland. As far 
  as I know, there's no charcoal involved. There IS coal under much of it.

  Kurt

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