Philip Small’s Recent Comments

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  A Soil Scientist Responds

  The conventional soil scientist must have gone out  with the 60's. I haven't met a "conventional" soil scientist, one that meets the definition used above, ever. Soil scientists long ago had to come to terms with the fact that all nutrient cycles are mediated by soil biology. I was taught in the early 70s in University that understanding the soil resource as a living entity is what separated our profession from engineers and geologists. I don't think even that distinction is still true, or certainly not as true as it was then.  Bioengineering, biogeochemistry and such. On Timothy LaSalle of Rodale on the surprising climate benefits of organic farming posted 1 year, 6 months ago 3 Responses

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  BioChar Promise

  The charcoal study demonstrates that charcoal stimulates soil biology, and in a holistic sense, this is one of the more positive developments for the prospects of using charcoal for carbon sequestration to come along.  

  Without some benefit to the recipient land user, it is doubtful that carbon sequestration alone will be able to generate much of a following for charcoal as a soil amendment. This added value is needed to persuade the diversion of  charcoal from its competing use as a fuel. Improved soil health, as measured by soil microbial performance, is a tangible benefit.  

  The forest humus study soundly answers the camp that argues that charcoal, because it doesn't participate in biogeochemical cycling, cannot, in and of itself be expected to add to soil vitality.  We needed a ten year study to shatter this simplistic assumption. To paraphrase an old aftershave advertisement: Thanks! We needed that!On Monday bummer blogging posted 1 year, 6 months ago 17 Responses

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  Ku 18 Decay

  As a metaphor for how to work towards a solution, I like this from the I Ching, Ku 18: Work on what has been spoiled [Decay]

  Excerpted: "What has been spoiled through man's fault can be made good again through man's work. It is not immutable fate, that has caused the state of corruption, but rather the abuse of human freedom. Work toward improving conditions promises well, because it accords the possibilities of the time. We must not recoil from work and danger but must take hold energetically. Success depends, however, on proper deliberation. We must first know the cause of corruption before we can do away with them; hence it is necessary to be cautious during the time before the start. Then we must see to it that the new way is safely entered upon, so that a relapse may be avoided; therefore we must pay attention to the time after the start. Decisiveness and energy must take the place of the inertia and indifference that have led to decay, in order that the ending may be followed by a new beginning."

  And if you follow the dynamics embodied in the details, I like the fifth line: "An individual is confronted with corruption originating from neglect in former times. He lacks the power to ward it off alone, but with able helpers he can at least bring about a thorough reform."On No more canaries in coal mines, please posted 2 years, 5 months ago 31 Responses

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  Teaming with Microbes...

  ... (2006) by Jeff Lowenfels & Wayne Lewis discusses the complex world of soil biology from a practical point of view.  The emphasis is that soil as a system is worth far more than the sum of its parts.  Teaming doesn't mention charcoal because it is such a new item to consider.  Charcoal fits well within this teaming and complex world in many ways. For one, the fine pores in the physical structure of charcoal gives beneficial microorganisms (archaea, bacteria, fungi) a place to hide away from predatory protozoa, voracious earthworms etc. This results in a higher level of inoculum of beneficial mycorrhyzal organisms, which in turn better protects plants from predation, parasitism and disease. This effect is subtle.  Charcoal works in soil in many different ways, apparently all subtle. In these effects, not all charcoal is created equal - low temperature pyrolysis of hardwood charcoal tends to be held up as the ideal for most soil situations.  This subtlety and complexity stands in sharp contrast to the sledge hammer characteristic of charcoal's carbon sequestration potential, where all pyrolysis and all feed stock is equal.  It sequesters carbon. So what. Please everybody just get over it, and get back to the most important part: the soil.On We haven't quite figured it out yet posted 2 years, 5 months ago 35 Responses

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  Soil

  I think it is clear that terra preta is playing an ever increasing role in carbon sequestration.  A fairly significant issue affecting the potential extent of that role is terra preta's specific ability to transform soil, its affect on crop ecology, and our ability to manage our land to achieve the benefits of char.  Currently this is moving forward with no incentives, no carbon credit drivers. Until the underlying soil science is understood better, we can't gauge the extent to which terra preta will serve in managing climate change and green house gases.

  As terra preta delivers on its promise of dramatically increasing soil vigor, it is not delivering on that promise uniformly, and, like all things soil related, it reveals itself as wondrously less simple with each passing day.  

  There are definite times and places for terra preta, at this point in time we truly don't know what these are.

  I sense that the carbon sequestration potential of terra preta is greater than the potential embodied in strategies to increase soil carbon with improved sward management and no-till cropping.  That doesn't mean it should supplant rational sward management, or that soil that can be no-tilled should be tilled because terra preta is here to make everything right.  Terra preta is only one tool in the tool box.  There is place for digestion (wet biomass) and there is a place for pyrolysis that digestion can't touch.  I know we TP enthusiasts get a little excited at times, but, if you dig into everything we write you will see that no one of us, not even Erich, sees TP as the be all to end all. Its just that TP is well, so incredibly interesting on so many different levels. On Charcoal carbon sequestration -- birth of a new CO2 removal wedge? posted 2 years, 6 months ago 28 Responses