Terra Preta - The parent thread which started it all

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by erich

A letter to Nature:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal...l/443144b.html

Correspondence
Nature 443, 144 (14 September 2006) | doi:10.1038/443144b; Published online 13 September 2006

Biochar trials aim to enrich soil for smallholders
William I. Woods1, Newton P. S. Falcão2 and Wenceslau G. Teixeira3

Department of Geography, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA
INPA/CPCA/Solos e Nutrição de Plantas, Av. André Araujo, Noo 3936, Bairro Petrópolis, CEP. 69011-970, Caixa Postal 478, Manaus - AM, Brazil
Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental, Rod. AM 010 - Km 29, CEP. 69011-970, Manaus - AM, Brazil

Sir:
Your recent News Feature "Black is the new green" (Nature 442, 624–626; 200610.1038/442624a) accurately summarized the origin, discussions and goals of the Terra Preta Nova group at the recent World Congress of Soil Science in Philadelphia.
.

Thanks Erich
I can't afford to subscribe to Nature but found this on the next page of the link you gave. (I was recently told by an Australian science discussion group that biofuels from cellulose was impossible.)
Most of our NSW and Tasmanian Old Growth Forests are now sent to Japan by the wood-chip-shipload to make origami (or maybe bio fuel?)

Correspondence

Nature 443, 144 (14 September 2006) | doi:10.1038/443144c; Published online 13 September 2006
Biochar and biofuels for a brighter future

M. H. B. Hayes1

1. Chemical and Environmental Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

Sir:

Your excellent News Feature "Black is the new green" (Nature 442, 624–626; 200610.1038/442624a) refers to President Bush's announcement that $150 million is to be put into converting cellulosic precursors to ethanol — a very modest amount, considering the plight of petrochemicals.
I would like to mention here some progress already being made in producing biofuels and platform chemicals from cellulose and hemicellulose precursors.

Almost quantitative yields of levulinic acid — an excellent platform chemical that gives rise to fuel additives, polymers and plastics, and numerous essential chemicals — are obtained from these precursors in the Biofine process (the work of Stephen Fitzpatrick of Biofine Renewables LLC in Waltham, Massachusetts). A 300-tonne-a-day Biofine plant is nearing final commissioning at Caserta, Italy. Similarly, commercial yields of fermentable levoglucosan from cellulose, and furfural from the pentoses in hemicelluloses, have been obtained in pilot studies using the Convertech process, led by Ken Scott of Scott Convertech in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The biomass to fuel such processes will revolutionize agriculture. It will also give rise to sustainable chemical industries, as oil reserves become depleted and oil prices are pushed up by demand, depletion and political dictates.
The biorefinery waste is a char.
This has a calorific value similar to that of bituminous coal, and our studies indicate that it has, like the Terra Preta de Indio chars, the potential to be an excellent soil ameliorant.
And looking at yet another innovation: the future will be bright if we base it on Carboleum, or 'oil from carbohydrate' — the brainchild of Austin Darragh at the University of Limerick — as we say farewell to petroleum.

Have I posted this before?
Interesting research study, these are the last two sentences.
See the article for details
http://crops.confex.com/crops/wc2006...ram/P16849.HTM

Overall, the use of biochar results in a net decrease in the integrated Global Warming Potential from the studied soils.
The rediscovered use of biochar increases crop and plant yield on very unfertile soils and constitutes a new tool to mitigate climate change.

O yes
I should mention this too; very important

the use of biochar resulted in a net reduction of net annual emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from soils as well

[Michaelangelica]

Funny (?) thing happened today.
Arthur, the aforementioned charcoal-maker, reported me to the NSW police as a potential Terrorist Bomb Maker.
(I haven't made gunpowder since I was 12).
It would be funny if it didn't demonstrate what a pathetic level our society has descended too.
Instead of 'Reds under the bed' I believe the new, politically incorrect, term is
"Tea Towels under the bed".

Mc Carthism is alive and well; only now it has Repressive Legislation.

If I disappear from the forums for two weeks you will know where I am.

I will send Arthur the latest on the Amnesty Free David Hicks Campaign and see what he makes of that!!

[redgreenblue]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

Funny (?) thing happened today.
Arthur, the aforementioned charcoal-maker, reported me to the NSW police as a potential Terrorist Bomb Maker.

If you're in NSW, you might be able to check out the International Agrichar Initiative 2007 Conference... This is basically a conference for those interested in scaling up terra preta technology...

iaiconference.org/home.html

From the site:

April 29 - May 2, 2007
Terrigal, New South Wales, Australia

Join the International Agrichar Initiative for a conference on Agrichar Science, Production and Utilization, being held in coastal New South Wales, Australia. The International Agrichar Initiative is a new consortium of research and development interests devoted to the sustainability of the world’s soils, and to sustainable bioenergy production.

What is the International Agrichar Initiative?

The International Agrichar Initiative is an informal, newly-formed coalition of research, commercial and policy-oriented people and organizations devoted to the sustainability of the world’s soils, and to sustainable bio-energy production. Agrichar production and utilization can renew the world’s soils through the addition of organic carbon, which can help solve the pressing problem of global climate change. The Agrichar production process also converts agricultural waste into valuable bio-fuels.

History of the Agrichar Initiative

During the 18th World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS) in July 2006 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a group of scientists, business interests, policy experts and others met to discuss the research priorities and challenges of this important area. The result is the International Agrichar Initiative, a movement to pursue a more organized research, development and commercialization effort to further the promise of Agrichar. For information on the July 2006 meeting in Philadelphia and some current Agrichar-related projects and activities, click here.

What is the ‘Agrichar process’?

Agricultural feedstocks such as animal manure, rice hulls, peanut shells, corn stover or forest waste are pyrolized at low temperatures to produce a char product (“Agrichar” or “biochar”) and separate bio-energy streams, in the form of oils and/or gases. The biochar captures about 50% of the carbon in the feedstock, and can be used as a soil amendment to improve soil fertility, stability, and productivity, and to store carbon in the soils, as a means of mitigating global warming. The use of Agrichar in soils mimics the Terra Preta (“dark earth”) soils of the Amazon Basin, which have sequestered high quantities of carbon for thousands of years, and have dramatically improved soil fertility and sustainability without chemical inputs. The bio-energy produced, which accounts for the other 50% of feedstock carbon, can be used to fuel a variety of energy needs.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by redgreenblue

If you're in NSW, you might be able to check out the International Agrichar Initiative 2007 Conference... This is basically a conference for those interested in scaling up terra preta technology...

Thanks Muchly redgreenblue
I live close and have asked for details of the confrence.

Another article.
Most of the same but the penny is starting to drop
ie

The ultimate carbon capture technique
Commonly proposed carbon sequestration strategies face some major hurdles. Technical 'geosequestration' methods consist of pumping large amounts of CO2 deep underground.
But these techniques are still under development, and recent evidence suggests that CO2 leakage forms a major problem and could in fact worsen matters.

On the other hand, natural methods that store carbon in living ecosystems may be possible in the short term but require huge swathes of land and are only as stable the ecosystems themselves. These strategies would come down to planting biomass and leaving it untouched.

An ideal solution, in particular for tropical countries, would consist of combining the quick fix of biological methods with the absolute potential of technical ones, while deriving energy from doing so. Terra preta may offer exactly the basis for such a strategy, as a recent article in Nature reveals.

http://biopact.com/2006_08_18_archive.html

At the same site is some interesting info on growing a giant tropical grass for bio-fuel.
Don't know why sugar cane would not be just as good?

[Michaelangelica]

Some info on the Terra preta confrence about 30mins drive from me.

Dear Michael,

Thank you for your enquiry about the upcoming International Agrichar Initiative (IAI) conference to be held at Terrigal, NSW, Australia in 2007.

Research groups and industry alike are becoming more interested in pyrolytic chars and as a result more work is being done on the science surrounding this material.
The application of Agrichar is relevant to many different disciplines including; Soil Science, Climate change, Waste Management, BioEnergy (Green/Renewable Energy), Agricultural Sustainability, Anthropology, Materials Science, Cleaner Production, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy and Regional Development. We hope to attract presentations relating to Agrichar from a range of these areas.

We would like to encourage you also to support the conference through contributing a presentation, attending, sponsoring or simply by passing on the word to colleagues who may be interested.

For more information, please see attached a conference brochure, or visit www.iaiconference.org .

The conference will not only lead to greater understanding in this area but also allow for the networking necessary to achieve an integrated research approach through collaborations within the multidisciplinary International Agrichar Initiative group. It is hoped that the combined R&D efforts will result in the paradigm shift needed to bring this technology into the mainstream so that the benefits can be achieved on a large scale.


If you have any questions about the conference or Agrichar in general please feel free to contact me.
Regards,

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael[mailto:michaelangelica
Sent: Friday, 10 November 2006 4:39 AM
To: adriana@biomass.com.au
Subject: International Agrichar Initiative 2007 Conference International Agrichar Initiative 2007 Conference

[Michaelangelica]

Another link with nice graphic
http://biooutput.blogspot.com/2006/1...new-green.html

Carbon sequestration faces some major hurdles. Technical geosequestration methods could pump large amounts of CO2 deep underground but are still under development.
. . .
The difference between terra preta and ordinary soils is immense. A hectare of meter-deep terra preta can contain 250 tonnes of carbon,
. .
Biofuels are touted as 'carbon neutral', but biofuels and biochar together promise to be 'carbon negative'. Danny Day, the founder of a company called Eprida
..

Terra preta's full beauty appears in this closed loop. Unlike traditional sequestration rates that follow diminishing marginal returns-aquifers fill up, forests mature-practices based on terra preta see increasing returns. Terra preta doubles or even triples crop yields

More pretty pics here
http://www.eprida.com/eprida_flash.php4
Our Govt is rushing arround like a headless chook on Global Warming now (Discovered it last week)
Just thew 60M to a multi-national who really needs it!!??? To pump CO2 underground A totaly untried technology and potentially disasterous.

Meanwhile our farmers are in very bad drought (1 in 1,000 year) and adding carbon to the soil could help them hold 17% more water - if it ever rains again
Makes me cross.

Canberra invests $60m in carbon storage project

23-November-06 by AAP

The federal government will pay $60 million to help develop carbon capture and storage technology in Western Australia that could allow the massive $11 billion Gorgon Gas project to go ahead.

Final approvals and decisions are yet to be made on Gorgon, but its operator, Chevron, proposes to inject carbon dioxide, removed from natural gas for export, into rock deep below Barrow Island off WA's Pilbara coast.

Carbon dioxide is routinely removed from natural gas during processing and is usually vented into the air.

Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell said today Canberra would provide $60 million to fund a demonstration project liquefying the carbon dioxide so it could be injected 2.5km underground instead

I wonder how many politicians Chevron has in its pocket?
It only made $4B last year, so it really needs government help!!!!????

ChevronTexaco , amongst other corporations complicit in human rights abuses:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/business/s...resources.html

http://www.amnestyusa.org/askamnesty...y.php?topic=53

The Gorgon Gas Development (with re-injection of Reservoir CO2) would produce around 3.3 million tonnes of CO2e per year, 8.1 million tonnes without re-injection. To place this in context, Australia’s 2000 Emission was 535.3 million tonnes. Western Australia’s 1995 emission was 49.3 million tonnes

.http://wa.democrats.org.au/html/modu...rticle&sid=116

Official returns reveal two $4000 donations to the West Australian branch of the Liberal Party from Chevron

http://www.jennifermarohasy.com/blog...es/001299.html

Political Transparency and Accountability Profile (2006)
Chevron Corp.
CUSIP: 2838555
Symbol: CVX
Web Site Policy: www.Chevron.com
Background:
Chevron is the fifth-largest integrated energy company in the world. It operates in over 180
countries and is engaged in every aspect of the oil and natural gas industry.
1
It has a carefully
cultivated image as a responsive company.
Political Activity
2
Overview
Chevron is a major political giver. A CPA examination of its political spending in the 2002, 2004 and 2006 election cycles suggests conflicts with the company’s image. Some of its donations ended up at groups that were indicted for violating state campaign finance laws, were criticized for hiding the source of contributions, or gave to candidates with positions that contradicted key policies and practices that enhanced the company’s reputation.
According to available records, Chevron contributed more than $3.6 million in corporate funds
since the 2000 election cycle. However, a review by the CPA suggests that Chevron’s political spending may be significantly understated for several reasons.
One reason is that the figure does not include Chevron payments to trade associations or other tax-exempt organizations that are used for political purposes. Some of the groups have a history of substantial political involvement. Current law does not require disclosure of those payments.
Another reason is that incomplete disclosure or haphazard reporting at the state level makes it near impossible to identify all of Chevron’s political contributions made with corporate money.
Over the past few years, Chevron has contributed to conduits that give political money to various recipients.

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:c...ient=firefox-a

[Michaelangelica]

Resilient Form of Plant Carbon Gives New Meaning to Term ‘Older than Dirt’

A particularly resilient type of carbon from the first plants to regrow after the last ice age – and that same type of carbon from all the plants since – appears to have been accumulating for 11,000 years in the forests of British Columbia, Canada. It’s as if the carbon, which comes from the waxy material plants generate to protect their foliage from sun and weather, has been going into a bank account where only deposits are being made and virtually no withdrawals.

Modelers of the Earth’s carbon cycle, who’ve worked on the assumption that this type of carbon remains in the soils only 1,000 to 10,000 years before microorganisms return it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, will need to revise their thinking if findings reported in the Nov. 24 issue of Science are typical of other northern forests.

“Our results about the resilience of this particular kind of carbon suggest that the turnover time of this carbon pool may be 10,000 to 100,000 years,” says Rienk Smittenberg, a research associate with the University of Washington School of Oceanography and lead author of the paper. He did the work while at the Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research.

http://www.physorg.com/news83516285.html

[rmark]

Had a thought, another potential strong value of using Terra Preta as a soil amendment method is that it will stop the excessive use of fertilisers, and the oveloading of groundwater systems with nutrients. Possible it might reduce or remove the Dead Zones that occur in the seas near the mouths of rivers like the Mississippi in the Gulf of Mexico.

Plus, it might make the use of biomass sewage treatment plants sensible, they could then harvest the reeds or whatever grass used and harvest it then combust the grass culms and return it to the land to increase fertility and soil quality and structure.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by rmark

Had a thought, another potential strong value of using Terra Preta as a soil amendment method is that it will stop the excessive use of fertilisers, and the oveloading of groundwater systems with nutrients.

Over time it seems to reduce the need for as much fertiliser. (Maybe completely?? but we don't want to say that in case it frightens the multinationals- but the Amazon Indians think this- but I am sure they still use some organic waste to "feed" the soil)
I suspect charcoal may help stop the leaching of fertilisers from the soil too; but I don't know.

Originally Posted by rmark

Possible it might reduce or remove the Dead Zones that occur in the seas near the mouths of rivers like the Mississippi in the Gulf of Mexico.

Don't know what they are.

Originally Posted by rmark

Plus, it might make the use of biomass sewage treatment plants sensible, they could then harvest the reeds or whatever grass used and harvest it then combust the grass culms and return it to the land to increase fertility and soil quality and structure.

Our attitude to Sewage is very strange. Many have tried to use it here without a lot of success so it is mostly pumped into the ocean.(This is the second-driest continent on Earth)
Recently a country town, almost without drinking water, voted not to re-cycle sewage water. The mind boggles. If they only knew how many millions of bugs, worms,nematodes, fungi, slime-molds and other critters are in the soil that the water travels through to get to the dam!

I have just discovered a delightful Australian who-dun-it author Kerry Greenwood. and her wonderful sassy, cute, sexy, smart, very female, detective "Phryne Fisher".
Anyway in one of her books she talks about the Chinese market gardeners collecting the night soil in the Aust. 19C goldfields.
They used it as fertiliser for their vegetables which they then sold back to the people who gave them the free night-soil.
Europeans looked down on them and thought the Chinese were the dumb/inferior ones!

[rmark]

Dead Zones are areas of the coasts where rivers discharge. When loaded with excessive fertiliser and nutrients, algae and bacteria flourish and then die, this deprives the water of oxygen, and then everything that needs oxygen dies. This can happen due to eutrophication caused by people, or naturally in upwelling zones of the ocean such as the Benguela Current of the southwestern coast of Africa. Reduction in fertiliser loading of estuaries and deltas could have thus a dramatic effect on these Dead Zones.
Mark