tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071315363222503671.post5199722161896243390..comments2024-03-25T18:36:55.442+00:00Comments on sustainable garden: biocharRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03237472076391330187noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071315363222503671.post-19033439721699266562011-11-10T23:30:13.327+00:002011-11-10T23:30:13.327+00:00Hi Rob,
Any results for the big biochar experiment...Hi Rob,<br />Any results for the big biochar experiment yet?<br /><br />Our preliminary results indicate a significant improvement in yield, root production and leaf colour (on pack choi) for radishes, garlic, onions, lettuces and pack choi. These are very preliminary results and we do not have a big enough dataset, but we do have over 100 participants now, so watch this space. Thank you again for your support! We are seeking many more participants for next spring. <br /><br />If you like our project, please visit peoplefund.it/oxfordbiochar/ and help us get enough funding to continue our work. Thank you!Cécile Girardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13112252876767855727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071315363222503671.post-70907494627503647512011-09-29T23:16:22.798+00:002011-09-29T23:16:22.798+00:00On biochar-
Pine trees will have terpentine compou...On biochar-<br />Pine trees will have terpentine compounds that can be problematic, and will need to be leached. But willows and such will produce good biochar.<br /><br />Benefits of biochar start at around 1/2% and continue on up as high as been tested (in the 10-20% region).<br />Considering that biochar is a long-term replacement/stand-in for organic matter in soils I would shoot for a minimum of 3-5% for the beneficial effects such as improving soil structure and water holding capacity.<br /><br />Biochar holds all nutrients to some degree or other, and will conform to the same ionic preference rules of other soil materials.. AL>> Ca> Mg> K > Na<br /><br />THe anions will also be held on biocahr but will depend on pH. (nitrate, sulfate)<br /><br />Phosphorus is very little free ions available, but the biochar itself will hold phosphorus that will be available for mycorhizzal species (everything but the beet family and brassica family).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071315363222503671.post-39110849619358921092011-08-31T07:20:59.921+00:002011-08-31T07:20:59.921+00:00STOP PRESS >>>STOP PRESS>>>
I re...STOP PRESS >>>STOP PRESS>>><br />I refer to the experiment I mention in this post.<br />My bag of biochar should arrive later this week!<br />RobRobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03237472076391330187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071315363222503671.post-32937102694871583432011-08-31T07:19:31.607+00:002011-08-31T07:19:31.607+00:00Thanks Erich.
Your knowledge far exceeds mine!
I j...Thanks Erich.<br />Your knowledge far exceeds mine!<br />I just want some for my pathetic, dessicated, impoverished soil!<br />RobRobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03237472076391330187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8071315363222503671.post-86985684584912650822011-08-28T15:43:06.696+00:002011-08-28T15:43:06.696+00:00Black Swan of Biochar
Short of a nano material PV...Black Swan of Biochar<br /><br />Short of a nano material PV / thermoelectrical / ultracapasitating Black swan,<br />What we can do now with "off the shelf" technology, what I proposed at the Commission for Environmental Cooperation.<br />The most cited soil scientist in the world, Dr. Rattan Lal at OSU, was impressed by this talk given to the EPA chiefs of North America, commending me on conceptualizing & articulating the concept.<br /><br />Bellow the opening text. A full Report on my talk at CEC, and complete text & links are here:<br />http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar-policy/message/3233<br /><br />[b]The Establishment of Soil Carbon as the Universal Measure of Sustainability[b]<br /><br />The Paleoclimate Record shows agricultural-geo-engineering is responsible for 2/3rds of our excess greenhouse gases. The unintended consequence; flowering of our civilization. Our science has now realized these consequences, developing a more encompassing wisdom. Wise land management, afforestation and the thermal conversion of biomass can build back our soil carbon. Pyrolysis, Gasification and Hydro-Thermal Carbonization are known biofuel technologies, What is new are the concomitant benefits of biochars for Soil Carbon Sequestration; building soil biodiversity & nitrogen efficiency, as a feed supplement cutting the carbon foot print of livestock & in situ remediation of toxic agents, Modern systems are closed-loop with no significant emissions. The general LCA is: every 1 ton of biomass yields 1/3 ton Biochar equal to 1 ton CO2e, plus biofuels equal to 1MWh exported electricity, so each energy cycle is 1/3 carbon negative<br /><br />Beyond Rectifying the Carbon Cycle, the same healing function for the Nitrogen and Phosphorous Cycles<br /><br /><br />The IBI now has 33 biochar affiliates around the world -- including in China, India, Japan UK, US, Australia, Korea, Canada, Italy and Israel.<br />Note also that our Japanese colleagues in the Japan Biochar Association have a very long tradition of biochar use and have been developing "modern methods" over the last thirty years. A governmental act officially acknowledged charcoal as a "soil ameliorator" back in 1988 and have completed work using Biochar as an in situ sorbent of Cd, and starting work on heavy metal radio-isotopes.Erich J. Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995702794016834400noreply@blogger.com