Biochar 11

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1. 

   Jonas Posted 4:51 am
   09 Dec 2008

   There where it makes most senseThere's a group of people trying to implement biochar at the tropical forest frontier amongst dead-poor slash-and-burn farmers - there where it makes most sense.
   Check them out at: http://www.biocharfund.com
   According to them, biochar could help reduce deforestation, hunger, energy poverty and climate change, and all this simultaneously. Sounds a bit too good to be true. But I know some of these people, and they have a good understanding of the challenges small farmers face in Central Africa.
   If I'm not mistaken, they have two pilot projects up and running, one in Congo and one in Cameroon.
   Let's hope biochar remains small-scale, and aimed at helping the poor, rather than yet another industrial-scale intervention.
   So please help promote or link to Biochar Fund's concept a bit!
   
   

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2. 

   Bob Wallace Posted 5:59 am
   09 Dec 2008

   Scale...If biochar is a reasonable way to capture and re-sequester carbon then we might have to move to industrial scale production to get our planet back into balance.  Time seems to be of the essence....
   That said, it would be nice if we could evolve a model that paid small farmers in areas of marginal land to operate small scale biochar plants.  Something along the lines of putting one cooker in a village to be shared by people in the surrounding area.  Pay them for raw materials delivered and biochar plowed back into their soil.
   Don't pay an unreasonable amount.  At some point it might be best if food crops from the reclaimed soil became more valuable than biochar.  Then move the cooker to a new area....

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3. 

   Pangolin Posted 5:49 pm
   09 Dec 2008

   Try it yourself. I would encourage people to try a single 5 pound bag of hardwood charcoal. Use the lump kind, not mesquite, not briquets. Soak the charcoal overnight in some water. Dig a small depression in the area you intend to use it. Using the hole as a mortar pound, grind, smash or chop the charcoal until you are dirty and tired of the exercise or it's the consistency of rough sand. Add some kind of nitrogen rich mulch, horse manure, alfalfa pellets or whatever you have handy. Spread over a 4 square foot plot (2'x2') and dig in a few inches. Set aside an adjoining plot to use as a control remembering to use equal amounts of the same mulch.  
   After a single season notice how the plants grow and how easy or hard it is to pull weeds in each plot. Remember your soil modification to this plot is pretty much permanent. You have just sequestered carbon but more importantly the whole dang dandelion root will come when you pull. Or even the whole oak sprout if you can believe it. Water goes into the soil instead of puddling on top and stuff grows like mad. A friend with an accidental biochar plot has crazy tomatoes.
   Any gardener who does this once I'm convinced will be addicted. I'm convinced. The Amazonian natives who converted huge tracts of land this had to have believe it. It simply works wonders.
   
   Put the Carbon Back

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4. 

   amazingdrx Posted 1:39 am
   10 Dec 2008

   If it worked?Yeah, if it actually worked and the energy was captured via cogeneration and if the farmers did not sell the charcoal instead of burying it, then it would sequester some carbon and increase soil fertility.  There is a huge market in charcoal cooking fuel all across the globe in under developed nations.
   Farmers would most likely accept payments from offset organizations in the wealthy world, then sell the charcoal.  It would provide an additional incentive for burning rain forest with no oversight.  
   Offset orgs often operate on plausible deniability already, paying farmers to clear land that already sequesters carbon naturally and planting trees.
   But the real problem is that it actually increases the rate of breakdown of biomass in the soil.  Releasing more CO2 and negating the supposed carbon offset benefit.
   And poor farmers don't have a grid to sell the power from the combustion or pyrolisis cogeneration facilities to generate power.
   On the other hand, a large extra tough plastic bag in a ditch filled with manure and biomass waste can produce cooking gas to prevent the use of expensice GHG intensive propane as a cooking fuel, capturing methane that would otherwise produce a huge GHG effect and substituting organic fertilizer for chemical fertilizer, preventing a huge GHG effect from the nitrous oxide released by chemical fertilizer.
   Go with biogas/organic fertilizer for maximum carbon offset and economic development, it's the best way to recycle biomass and sequester carbon.
   Biochar will most likely devolve into primitive buried bonfire charcoal production, the global bane of forest preservation.  Look what happened to Haiti, all the trees have been converted to charcoal cooking fuel sold in the cities in return for starvation wages for the rural poor.
   
   http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

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5. 

   Bob Wallace Posted 2:34 am
   10 Dec 2008

   Pangolin -Few gardeners are going to go to that much trouble to turn charcoal into biochar.  I'd like to think that I might but I suspect I won't.
   Perhaps what is needed is some company producing biochar and selling small packets to folks.  I'd pay a few bucks for enough to dope one of my beds.
   (I wonder if the "fines" from a cooking charcoal company might not fit the bill.)
   Lots of testimonials from gardeners might be a good way to boost this idea.  
   --
   X - Recognizing that there are potential downsides to an idea does not mean that one walks away from the idea.  It means that you engineer to avoid/minimize the problems.

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6. 

   erich Posted 4:09 am
   10 Dec 2008

   Biochar, Obama, Dr.Hansen & ACS ConferenceBiochar, 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!
   Modern Pyrolysis of biomass is 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, Bio-Gas & Bio-oil fuels, so is a totally virtuous, carbon negative energy cycle.
   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.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/soil/mann-text
   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."
   Biochar data base;
   
   http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/?q=node
   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 and your transition team
   The Biochar provisions by Sen.Ken Salazar in the 07 & 08 farm bill,
   
   http://www.biochar-international.org/newinformationevents ...
   NASA's Dr. James Hansen Global warming solutions paper and letter to the G-8 conference, placing Biochar / Land management the central technology for carbon negative energy systems.
   
   http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0804/0804.1126.pdf
   The many new university programs & field studies, in temperate soils; Cornell, ISU, U of H, U of GA, Virginia Tech, New Zealand and Australia.
   Glomalin's role in soil tilth, fertility & basis for the soil food web in Terra Preta soils.
   The International Biochar Initiative Conference Sept 8 in New Castle;
   
   http://www.biochar-international.org/ibi2008conference/ab ...
   Given the current "Crisis" atmosphere concerning energy, soil sustainability, food vs. Biofuels, and Climate Change what other subject addresses them all?
   This is a Nano technology for the soil that represents the most comprehensive, low cost, and productive approach to long term stewardship and sustainability.
   Carbon to the Soil, the only ubiquitous and economic place to put it.
   Michael Pollan is well briefed about Biochar technology, but did not include it in his 8000 word, "Farmer & Chief" NYT's article to President Obama (his people aproached Pollan about it), but I'm sure Biochar will be his 8001th word to you.
   Erich
   
   540 289 9750
   Total CO2 Equivalence:
   
   Once a commercial bagged soil amendment product, every suburban household can do it,
   
   The label can tell them of their contribution, a 40# bag = 150# CO2 = 160 bags / year to cover my personal CO2 emissions. ( 20,000 #/yr , 1/2 Average )
   
   http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator ...
   But that is just the Carbon!
   
   I have yet to find a total CO2 equivalent number taking consideration against some average field N2O & CH4 emissions. The New Zealand work shows 10X reductions.If biochar proves to be effective at reducing nutrient run-off from agricultural soils, then there will accordingly be a reduction in downstream N2O emissions.
   This ACS study implicates soil structure as main connection to N2O soil emissions;
   
   http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Paper4195 ...
   biochar papers at the ACS Huston meeting see Ron Larson's post http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/message/1852
   Biochar Studies at ACS Huston meeting;
   578-I: http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Session42 ...
   579-II http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Session44 ...
   665 - III. http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Session44 ...
   666-IV http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Session44 ...
   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.
   4 MYC mechanisms ?
   
   Why the Massive Fungi growth?
   
   4 mycorrhizae(MYC)mechanisms;
   
   These mechanisms are (in decreasing order of currently available evidence supporting them): (a) alteration of soil physico-chemical properties; (b) indirect effects on mycorrhizae through effects on other soil microbes; (c) plant-fungus signaling interference and detoxification of allelochemicals on biochar; and (d) provision of refugia from fungal grazers. We provide a roadmap for research aimed at testing these mechanistic hypotheses.
   Company News & EU Certification
   Below is an important hurtle that has been overcome in certification in the EU. Given that their standards are set much higher than even organic certification in the US, this work should smooth any bureaucratic hurtles we may face.
   EU Permit Authority - 4 years tests
   
   Subject: Fwd: [biochar] Re: GOOD NEWS: EU Permit Authority - 4 years tests successfully completed
   Doses: 400 kg / ha - 1000 kg / ha at different horticultural cultivars
   Plant height Increase 141 % versus control
   
   Picking yield Increase 630 % versus control
   
   Picking fruit Increase 650 % versus control
   
   Total yield Increase 202 % versus control
   
   Total piece of fruit Increase 171 % versus control
   
   Fruit weight Increase 118 % versus control
   There is list of the additional beneficial effects of the 3R FORMULATED BIOCHAREU DOSSIER for permit administration and summary of the results from 4 different Authorities who executed different test programme is under construction
   
   I suggest these independent and accredited EU relevant Authority permit field tests results will support the further development of the biochar application systems on international level, and providing case evidence, that properly made and formulated (plant and/or animal biomass based) biochars can meet the modern environmental - agricultural - human health inspection standards and norm, while supporting the knowledge based economical development.
   We work further on to expand not only in the EU but in the USA as well. My Cincinnati large scale carbonization project is progressing, hopefully the first industrial scale 3R clean coal - carbon plant will be ready in 2009.
   Sincerely yours: Edward Someus (environmental engineer)
   
   HOMEPAGE 3R AGROCARBON: http://www.3ragrocarbon.com
   http://www.terrenum.net
   
   EMAIL 1: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
   
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7. 

   Pangolin Posted 8:37 pm
   10 Dec 2008

   Thanks for the detailed post.If these figures on crop improvement...
   "Plant height Increase 141 % versus control
   
   Picking yield Increase 630 % versus control
   
   Picking fruit Increase 650 % versus control
   
   Total yield Increase 202 % versus control
   
   Total piece of fruit Increase 171 % versus control
   
   Fruit weight Increase 118 % versus control"
   Don't convince a gardener to till in some biochar then all my noise about improved tilth, water percolation, weed removal and plant health aren't going to help.
   That's for a one time application.
   Also, considering the labor involved in turning 500 lbs of leaves into 150 lbs of compost a more rapid incorporation of biomass into soils is welcome. Since most undisturbed soils are already at carbon equilibrium this will only change the equation by a few months in tropical and subtropical climates and a few years in temperate climates.
   If I'm correct then the increase in soil carbon from charcoal amended soils is greater than the mass of the charcoal added. Additional root and fungal mass counts as increased carbon sequestered also.
   
   Put the Carbon Back

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8. 

   Bob Wallace Posted 2:31 am
   11 Dec 2008

   Pangolin...There seems to be at least two methods for "determining truth" operating at this point in time....
   Some get their primary information from research outcomes.  
   Others dismiss research outcomes and find "word of mouth" to be their trusted source.  Now I wish this weren't true, but that's just the way it is.
   There are lots of people who trust testimonials (fools they might be)that are going to be more convinced by hearing from a gardener in their neighborhood.
   I can see a biochar introduction program which sells "$1" packs in local nurseries, etc.

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9. 

   Pangolin Posted 11:05 am
   11 Dec 2008

   BobIf you are accusing me of accepting a pig in a poke based upon internet posts you would be wrong. I've done my own pot tests. I've had a discussion with a research Ph.D in geology about the persistence of charcoal in soils that confirmed the claims of the Cornell team. You can confirm for yourself that soils are generally understood to have a "carbon equilibrium" by researching that phrase on Google:scholar.
   A quick scan of that research will show you that warmer soils generally have lower carbon contents due to the rapid utilization of biomass by micro-flora and microfauna. That's why my local soils are relatively light colored even under a 200 year old Valley Oak. Despite the fact that the tree has been dropping leaves twigs and acorns and gophers have been mixing plant material into the deep soil virtually all of the carbon has converted to atmospheric gasses. It's too warm.
   Biochar is showing in repeated research that it increases crop yields and total biomass. That would necessarily include root biomass (soil carbon) as well. Resulting in quotes like this from research papers:
   
   from:  Enhancing the Productivity of Crops and Grasses while Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Bio-Char Amendments to Unfertile Tropical Soils.
   
   Results: Additions of even low doses of charcoal (Biochar) to soils results in a net cumulative increase in total biomass of maize, improved pasture and native savanna vegetation. Yields of maize were similar in all treatments during the first year but significantly increased by biochar in the two subsequent years. In the third year, yields increased from 5.7 ton/ha (control) to 6.6 and 7.3 ton/ha for the low and high dose of biochar. Forage production from B. dictyoneura increased by 26% and 55% in the second year relative to the control in the low and high biochar plots respectively. Total biomass production on the native vegetation trials was slightly increased from 5.78 ton/ha (control) to 6.14 ton/ha in the high biochar dose, but was similar to the control at the low biochar dose.
   I don't know about where you live but the farmers in my area would be giddy with that kind of long term improvement in production. That's science there talking. Not some handyman in N. Cal. and it looks dang near like a miracle. What would be your problem with that?
   
   Put the Carbon Back

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10. 

    Bob Wallace Posted 11:32 am
    11 Dec 2008

    My problem would be either:1) That you didn't read my post and understand what I was saying.
    or
    2) I don't know how to write in a way that you understand.
    And I don't at all understand what that "handyman in N.Cal." thing has to do with the issue....

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11. 

    erich Posted 2:42 pm
    11 Dec 2008

    CDM for BIOCHARThe IBI Announces Success in Having Biochar Considered as a Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Tool;
    
    POZNAN, Poland, December 10, 2008 - The International Biochar Initiative (IBI) announces that the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has submitted a proposal to include biochar as a mitigation and adaptation technology to be considered in the post-2012-Copenhagen agenda of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). A copy of the proposal is posted on the IBI website at
    
    The International Biochar Initiative (IBI).

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