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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Dear Robert,<br>
<br>
Thank you for your informative reply.<br>
<br>
The bamboo of almost any size will be valuable for making
biochar. Especially collect all the OLD and used bamboo (dry and
of no use to anyone else except to burn it, so make biochar and
still have the heat from the burn).<br>
<br>
You should see <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.biobamboo.org">www.biobamboo.org</a> See the excellent video
there (15 minutes, WELL DONE). I understand that Charlotte
O'Brien is now in Cambodia. Attempt to make contact with her.<br>
<br>
I do not know about mimosa as a potential biomass for biochar
production.<br>
<br>
You mention retorts for making biochar. Please consider the TLUD
methods. <br>
<br>
Look at <br>
<p style="clear: both; margin-top: 30px;">ETHOS 2012 presentation:</p>
<div style="width: 400px;"><a class="fancybox-pdf"
href="http://www.drtlud.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/ETHOS-2012-Barrel-Size-Micro-gasification.pdf"
target="_blank"><img style="padding-right: 4px;
padding-bottom: 20px; float: left;" alt="Barrel-size
Micro-gasification for Combined Heat and Biochar (CHAB) in
"Mini" Industries"
src="cid:part1.09050705.06000407@ilstu.edu" width="40"
height="40"><span style="background-color: rgb(220, 220,
220);">PR12001</span><br>
Barrel-size Micro-gasification for Combined Heat and Biochar
(CHAB) in “Mini” Industries</a><br>
<br>
Available at my website and elsewhere. That presentation of
20 months ago is being essentially updated next week with
multiple presentations by several presenter at the North
American Biochar Symposium.<br>
<br>
We are glad that you are getting started with biochar.<br>
<br>
Suggestion: Look around you and <big><b><small>tell us</small></b></big>
about WHATEVER use is made of heat in your area. Any fires
whatsoever. Big or small. THEN we can guide about having
biochar production (perhaps) self-financed by the value of the
thermal energy. <br>
<br>
Paul<br>
</div>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Doc / Dr TLUD / Prof. Paul S. Anderson, PhD
Email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu">psanders@ilstu.edu</a>
Skype: paultlud Phone: +1-309-452-7072
Website: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.drtlud.com">www.drtlud.com</a></pre>
On 10/7/2013 12:20 AM, Robert Deutsch wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:00a801cec31c$e901c130$bb054390$@com.kh"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Dear Stovers,
I am a (currently unemployed) American consultant married to a lovely
Cambodian women. We have both worked in the NGO world for a number of years
in rural development, HIV and health, urban poverty issues and slum
improvement projects, parenting skills, etc., but not much in agricultural.
Together we have a small mango orchard in Prey Vieng province along the
Mekong river (about 45 kms from Phnom Penh) with about 200, one-year old
mango trees planted. The land was actually built up with local clay to get
the trees' leafy area above the normal annual flood level. Trees are on
approx 4-6m spacing. We are advised by locals to inner crop papayas on
1-1.5m spacing for a quick cash crop. Depending on what floods do for the
next year or two, we may get only 10 months growing time from the papayas,
or we my get 2-3 years. However I think the soil (mostly heavy clay and
some reddish top soil) is pretty poor and lacks good drainage for papayas.
I would like to try adding bio-char mixed with compost and cow manure to
improve the soil structure, bio-activity and drainage. We hope to plant
around 4000 papaya seedling before the end of the year (the flood waters are
just starting to recede).
Can you point me to a good design for a small-farm scale biochar retort,
keeping in mind that I have good mechanical and fabrication skills, but very
little cash at the moment?
By the way, there is some large bamboo (3-4inch variety) and some smaller
types grown in the village. Also, mimosa plant is a major problem here.
Could the bent/broken bamboo and mimosa be used for biochar?
Best regards,
Robert
Prey Tasor Village
Prey Vieng, Cambodia
</pre>
</blockquote>
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