[Stoves] Biochar Projects for Science Students

[Kevin]

Dear Jeff

Very interesting question!!

Firstly, charcoal has been in the soil, for thousands of years naturally... 
forest and grassland fires. If there was a problem, then forests or 
grasslands would tend to show problems.

Secondly, is there any basis for feeling that there might be a long term 
negative effect from adding charcoal to the soil? If so, perhaps the Science 
Project could be set up to prove or disprove a hypothesis.

The video link provided by Pat 
http://permaculture.org.au/2010/11/21/biochar-potential-or-pitfall-carbon-storage-vs-soil-quality/ 
describes test work using 25% biochar. It is not likely that commercial 
growers would ever use such high biochar addition rates, except in special 
applications; in special applications, the biochar could simply be water 
leached or acid washed to reduce pH to acceptable levels.

Best wishes,

Kevin
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Davis" <jeff0124 at velocity.net>
To: "Discussion of biomass cooking stoves" <stoves at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 9:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Stoves] Biochar Projects for Science Students


> Tom,
>
>
> An exercise in critical thinking:
>
> Two statements....
>
> 1. It's claimed that biochar persists in the soil for thousands of
> years.
>
> 2. Biochar is not normally found in the soil.
>
> Challenge....
>
> How do we prove that there will not be any long term problems with no
> turning back. Will we end up with a Frankenstein type soil
> (FrankenSoil)?
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
>
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, 2010-10-30 at 12:48 -0700, Tom Miles wrote:
>> We need experiments for high school science students to make and use
>> biochar.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -- 
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