Disqus - Latest Comments for erichj

Re: Biochar, a “Green” Alternative for Fertilizer

erichj — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:32:51 -0000

Biochar Studies at ACS Huston meeting;

578-I: [url=http://a-c-s.confex.com/cro...]Session: Symposium --Black Carbon in Soils and Sediments: I. Classification, Formation, and Occurrence[/url]

579-II [url=http://a-c-s.confex.com/cro...]Session: Symposium --Black Carbon in Soils and Sediments: II. Identification and Characteristics[/url]

665 - III. [url=http://a-c-s.confex.com/cro...]Session: Symposium --Black Carbon in Soils and Sediments: III. Environmental Function[/url]

666-IV [url=http://a-c-s.confex.com/cro...]Session: Symposium --Black Carbon in Soils and Sediments: IV. Stability and Carbon Sequestration Potential[/url]

Most all this work corroborates char soil dynamics we have seen so far . The soil GHG emissions work showing increased CO2 , also speculates that this CO2 has to get through the hungry plants above before becoming a GHG.
The SOM, MYC& Microbes, N2O (soil structure), CH4 , nutrient holding , Nitrogen shock, humic compound conditioning, absorbing of herbicides all pretty much what we expected to hear.

Johannes Lehmann <cl273@cornell.edu> recent work;

Mycorrhizal responses to biochar in soil – concepts
and mechanisms
Daniel D. Warnock & Johannes Lehmann &
Thomas W. Kuyper & Matthias C. Rillig
[url]http://www.css.cornell.edu/...[/url]

Re: Biochar, a “Green” Alternative for Fertilizer

erichj — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:16:01 -0000

The Rest of the Biochar Story:

Charles Mann ("1491")in the Sept. National Geographic has a wonderful soils article which places Terra Preta / Biochar soils center stage.
I think Biochar has climbed the pinnacle, the Combined English and other language circulation of NGM is nearly nine million monthly with more than fifty million readers monthly!
We need to encourage more coverage now, to ride Mann's coattails to public critical mass.

Please put this (soil) bug in your colleague's ears. These issues need to gain traction among all the various disciplines who have an iron in this fire.
http://ngm.nationalgeograph...

I love the "MEGO" factor theme Mann built the story around. Lord... how I KNOW that reaction.

I like his characterization concerning the pot shards found in Terra Preta soils;

so filled with pottery - "It was as if the river's first inhabitants had
thrown a huge, rowdy frat party, smashing every plate in sight, then
buried the evidence."

A couple of researchers I was not aware of were quoted, and I'll be sending them posts about our Biochar group: http://tech.groups.yahoo.co...

and data base;
http://terrapreta.bioenergy...

I also have been trying to convince Michael Pollan ( NYT Food Columnist, Author ) to do a follow up story, with pleading emails to him

Since the NGM cover reads "WHERE FOOD BEGINS" , I thought this would be right down his alley and focus more attention on Mann's work.

I've admiried his ability since "Botany of Desire" to over come the "MEGO" factor (My Eyes Glaze Over) and make food & agriculture into page turners.

It's what Mann hasn't covered that I thought should interest any writer as a follow up article.

The Biochar provisions by Sen.Ken Salazar in the 07 farm bill,

Dr, James Hansen's Global warming solutions paper and letter to the G-8 conference last month, and coming article in Science,
http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/...

The many new university programs & field studies, in temperate soils

Glomalin's role in soil tilth & Terra Preta,

The International Biochar Initiative Conference Sept 8 in New Castle;
http://www.biochar-internat...

Given the current "Crisis" atmosphere concerning energy, soil sustainability, food vs. Biofuels, and Climate Change what other subject addresses them all?
Biochar, the modern version of an ancient Amazonian agricultural practice called Terra Preta (black earth), is gaining widespread credibility as a way to address world hunger, climate change, rural poverty, deforestation, and energy shortages… SIMULTANEOUSLY!

This technology represents the most comprehensive, low cost, and productive approach to long term stewardship and sustainability.
Terra Preta Soils a process for Carbon Negative Bio fuels, massive Carbon sequestration,10X Lower Methane & N2O soil emissions, and 3X Fertility Too. Every 1 ton of Biomass yields 1/3 ton Charcoal for soil Sequestration.

Carbon to the Soil, the only ubiquitous and economic place to put it.

Erich
540 289 9750

Re: Distributed energy is the future of renewable energy production, says Ecovolve

erichj — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:14:22 -0000