[Terrapreta] DRAFT Biochar for Gardeners FAQ wiki

[Michael Bailes]

1.0 What is Biochar?

Biochar is charcoal formed by low temperature pyrolysis.(c. 350-450 C)
Ideally it is made in a way that achieves maximal woodgas condensate
retention, and can be infused with nutrient byproducts, such as nitrogen
[and calcium? fact check needed] as achieved by EPRIDA.

I think Eprida is unique among biochar producers.

I don't think infusing with nutrients is necessarily biochar.

What is the difference between biochar, agrichar and charcoal?

It seems to me they are all words for the same thing.
1.01 How does biochar relate to agrichar and to Terra Preta?Using char is
only one aspect of the TP gardening/farming process, the others would be
using organic matter, pottery shards, no till, and perhaps with *TP
nova*inoculants and fertilisers. As char speeds up SOM availability to
plants
adding lots of organic matter is important. So too is protecting microbial
life but not using too much (or any?) chemical fertiliser and not tilling
the soil.
 1.02 What is pyrolysis?

Pyrolysis is combustion in the presence of a restricted oxygen supply.  This
yield combustable gases (aka syngas, wood gas, and producer gas) and/or
energy (Can be hooked up to electrical generator and fed into the
grid) ccharcoal
and ash.Ash ?No not really? See BEST Energies Website for some info.
 1.03 Can I substitute other forms of charcoal for biochar?

Yes, up to a point. Low temperature pyrolysis, maximal woodgas condensate
retention, and infusion with nutrients drawn from pyrolysis gases are the
hallmarks of a biochar at the highest grade, What is "highest grade" A value
judgement. Pyrolosis is probably the best environmental char because it
saves energy and reduces air pollutants but almost any char is going to work
in one way or another.but that is not to imply that using simple charcoal,
or charcoal made from other than plant materials, won't produce some, and
even most, of the same benefits.  It is normally adviseable to avoid
charcoal briquetttes because the binders used during manufacture can add
undesireable constituents.
 1.04 Is biochar made from hardwood best?

Maybe. Up to a year or two ago,  the community of Terra Preta enthusiasts
seemed convinced that hardwood charcoal was the best, even necessary.  Not
so much anymore.
Hardwood char was most likely the char used by the Amazonians. and probably
contains more bio-oils. These bio-oils promote microbial life in the soil.
Other Chars such as rich-hull char has different properties for example,
containing fewer bio-oils but more available silica.

2008/5/22 Philip Small <psmall2008 at landprofile.com>:

>
>
> On Wed, May 21, 2008 at 10:53 AM, Tom Miles <tmiles at trmiles.com> wrote:
>
>>  Philip,
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you very much. That's a welcome addition. And you're a good person
>> to be leading this effort.
>>
> I've been looking for a way to increase my paltry level of contribution.
> This is a good fit for me.
>
>>
>>
>> Do you want me to link it to the Terra Preta website yet?
>>
> I don't see any problem with that.
>
>>
>>
>> Tom
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* e.philip.small at gmail.com [mailto:e.philip.small at gmail.com] *On
>> Behalf Of *Philip Small
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, May 21, 2008 9:14 AM
>> *To:* Michael Bailes; Erich Knight; Tom Miles; Richard Haard
>> *Subject:* DRAFT Biochar for Gardeners FAQ wiki
>>
>>
>>
>> Hello Michael the Archangel, Erich of Shengar, Tom Miles, and Richard
>> Haard:
>>
>> I have had it in the back of my mind that the world's gardeners need a biochar
>> FAQ <http://biochar.pbwiki.com/>.
>> I have added you all as wiki administrators, and you are thus free to add
>> anybody else you want as our fellow contributors contributors.
>>
>> Its a wiki. Contributors can add/refine answers, add questions with no
>> answers, rearrange the questions, whatever. Make a mess, clean it up, have
>> fun! If this turns into (or inspires) something useful, we can give it form,
>> move it to someplace more visible, and get the word out.
>>
>> http://biochar.pbwiki.com/
>>
>> --
>> Philip Small, RPSS
>> Land Profile, Inc. * PO Box 2175 * Spokane, WA 99210
>> 509-844-2944 cell * 509-838-4996 fax * 509-838-9860 office
>> Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/philipsmall
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Philip Small, RPSS
> Land Profile, Inc. * PO Box 2175 * Spokane, WA 99210
> 509-844-2944 cell * 509-838-4996 fax * 509-838-9860 office
> Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/philipsmall
>



-- 
Michael the Archangel
"Politicians will never solve The Problem;
because they don't realise they are The Problem.".
-Robert ( Bob ) Parsons 1995
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