permaculture

[Pietro Galgani <peppox@hotmail.com>]

 To everyone who wants to learn more about biochar:
Some time ago I stumbled on this page with a lot of resources about biochar, 
including links to explanations on how to produce it on a small scale, a 
review of companies that sell equipment and/or biochar, and scientific 
research.

http://ahualoa.net/ag/notes_biochar.html


> Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:40:21 -0400
> From: venaurafarm@bellsouth.net
> To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [permaculture] Terra Preta & Biochar
> 
> 
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [SANET-MG] Terra Preta
> Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:09:37 EDT
> From: Neal Van Milligen <CAVM@AOL.COM>
> To: SANET-MG@LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU
> 
> There are any number of terra preta or bio-char production sites in
> Google.  In a nutshell it is the roasting of ground organic matter to 
> produce what is essentially charcoal.
> 
> The roasting process, or pyrolysis, can be polluting if done the old
> fashioned low tech way.  In modern techniques the gases given off by the 
> roasting or torrefaction of biomass is CO, CO2, methane and H2.  If 
> ambient  air is used to stoke the process a significant amount of N will 
> also be in the gas, up to 50%.  In an oxygen deprived process the gases 
> will provide a valuable substitute for propane with slightly less BTU 
> per scf.  If air is  used in the process the gas will be a weak but 
> still valuable flammable byproduct with BTU content from 135 to 300 per 
> scf..  It can be used to  power an engine or a generator or to produce 
> heat for other uses such as to  distill water or cooking.
> 
> If the biomass used in the process costs $20 per green ton the  bio-char 
> terra preta will have about $100 per ton cost due to loss of  moisture 
> and reduction in volume.  This excludes equipment, labor, site, 
> maintenance, etc, etc. However, in many cases the biomass will have a 
> negative cost, you are paid to take it.
> 
> Different biomass inputs and different process techniques will result in 
> different qualities of char.  There is still more art than science 
> involved and experience pays good dividends in this.
> 
> Neal
> 
> 
> In a message dated 10/19/2010 11:59:54 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
> lflj@bellsouth.net writes:
> 
> On  10/20/2010 12:09 AM, Neal Van Milligen wrote:
> > I read that a 140%  increase in corn yields in a study done in Columbia
> > was attributed to  the use of Terra Preta or char.
> 
> (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/30/biochar-production-climate-change)
> 
> > This is stunning considering the ease with which the char can beproduced.
> 
> It is amazing for sure. Charcoal has an incredible amount of  surface 
> area and can store and retain (w/o leaching) an amazing amount of 
> nutrients. Initially, with a constructed biochar farmsite there is a 
> deficiency of nitrogen as the charcoal soaks up to capacity N from 
> surrounding  soil, then it is released to the plants. I always thought 
> it was diffcult, polluting and expensive to produce.
> You say otherwise. Do you know of  websites illustrating efficient 
> methods of producing  biochar?
> 
> LL
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