[Stoves] [biochar] Capturing carbon in the timber industry

Tom Miles tmiles at trmiles.com
Mon Dec 20 13:23:10 CST 2010


There clearly are alternatives but they usually require non-renewable fossil
energy and don't necessary add to long term health or productivity. 

 

The long term improvement in tree (root) health demonstrated in the Japanese
work in Acacia plantations and in restoring pines (Ogawa
http://www.geocities.jp/yasizato/pioneer.htm) is impressive. Benefits may
not appear for a few years. 

 

Our local companies are experimenting with biochar and biochar-compost
blends in reforestation as carriers for phosphorous which is usually lacking
on our degraded forest soils. This use is analogous to using biochar or
biochar-compost in planting holes for trees or tree crops in developing
countries. Biochar is used in Central America by some organizations like
Trees water and People as part of the planting mix in nurseries and in
outplanting trees.   

 

Many researchers like Christoph Steiner, Julie Major and others have shown
us that measurable improvements seem to be most apparent in poor, acid, clay
soils where biochar brings up the pH, retains nutrients and adds carbon.
Last September Newton Falcao of the national research institute for the
Amazons (INPA http://www.inpa.gov.br/) showed us that using biochar can
improve maize yields 5 x for a subsistence farmer on the Amazon.

http://www.ibi2010.org/field-trip-to-the-amazonexcursao-tecnica-para-a-amazo
nia

Tom

 

From: stoves-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
[mailto:stoves-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Crispin
Pemberton-Pigott
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 9:59 AM
To: 'Discussion of biomass cooking stoves'
Subject: Re: [Stoves] [biochar] Capturing carbon in the timber industry

 

Dear Tom

 

The continuing interest continue to give me hints. What I have read (mostly
from Japanese trials) indicates the results are there but spotty. There is
no way to quantify 'and increase' in a general sense. For the amount of
money and effort there are alternatives.

 

Regards

Crispin

 

 

 

+++++++++

 

Crispin,

 

Benefits tend to be specific to soils and circumstances. There has been lots
of research by forest soil scientists in the US West in recent years
(Montana, Idaho, Oregon). I know of a couple of private companies that are
doing field trials. 

 

The best documentation for the benefits of char is referenced on the website
of the International Biochar Initiative (www.biochar-international.org). We
also have considerable information at www.biochar.bioenergylists.org

 

Several biochar-in-forest-soil papers have been presented at the many
regional, national and international biochar, agronomy and soil science
conferences. 

 

Tom

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