Science Forums 2

[Taildragerdriver]

This Terra Preta concept had real potential in three areas. I am new to the Science Forums. I came here due to an interest in several elements related to Terra Preta. I'm interested in getting involved in three ways.

First I work professionally in what is called fire management working with US public land management agencies. We have a great deal of interest in a way to use biomass produced when we try to reduce fuels in projects designed to reduce fire intensity around areas of human developments. If we can get an interest going with agriculture to incorporate large quantities of charcoal a commercial charcoal industry could be developed to use these biomass products produced in fuels reductions projects.

Second I am interested in learning how to produce charcoal in large quantities for incorporation into local farmlands. I have read some descriptions on how to make charcoal and plan to try to develop methods to produce large quantities fairly efficiently for my own use on my pastures. I have access to lots of slash to burn and a safe place to burn it. I would like to find as much information as possible on how to best accomplish this.

Third I have several pastures that have been flood irrigated since some time in the 1870s, My water rites are 1892 so I know the have been irrigated that long. The soils are badly leached out as you might expect. I want to improve the productivity of these pastures by incorporating large quantities of charcoal to bind fertility even in highly saturated soils. I can't run less water through these pastures even if I don't irrigate due to subirrigation when neighbors irrigate.

Interestingly Terra Preta seems like it can play a role in creating a very reasonable solution to a whole host of problems. Related to my work and farming/ranching operations.

I'm interested in further discussion on all these topics.

Thanks

Taildragerdriver