[Terrapreta] DRAFT Biochar for Gardeners FAQ wiki

[Robert Flanagan]

So Michael,

 

What do you base the information on? Trials that you conducted or received
hard data on??? 

 

Attached  (http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/node/608 ) are some photos
of my latest trial with char (biochar/agrichar or any other name you want to
call it!) not produced at the temperatures you claim to be the best or in
any reactor that you claim makes better then the others! So can you please
explain to me how I achieved the above results with charcoal made from
willow and miscanthus at over 550C? In the attached photos I just added the
char to local soil with no other additions?

 

You are right when you mention charcoal only being one part of terra preta
farming as balance in the key and nutrient and carbon cycling. Pyrolysis
only produces combustible gas when all the moisture has been driven off so
it's not correct to say you get syngas from low temp pyrolysis unless you
pre-dry your feedstock and then clean up the tars before going into a genset
and making electric power.

 

All in all one clear statement comes to mind!

 

"IN THE LAND OF THE BLIND, HE WITH ONE EYE IS KING!!!!"

Better print information based on your own first hand experience then give
false information as you have below! One suggestion would be have such info
reviewed by the likes of Nikolaus Foidl, Steve Joseph or Christoph Steiner
as they have all first hand experience with charcoal addition in soil.

 

Rob.


 

On Wed, May 21, 2008 at 11:29 PM, Michael Bailes <michaelangelica at gmail.com>
wrote:


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>:

 


-- 
Robert Flanagan
Chairman & President
Hangzhou Sustainable Agricultural Food & Fuel Enterprise Co., Ltd.

Skype "saffechina"
Tel: 86-571-881-850-67
Cell: 86-130-189-959-57 

 

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