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   erich | Dec 9, 2008 | Reply

   Biochar, the modern version of an ancient Amazonian agricultural practice called Terra Preta (black earth), is gaining widespread credibility as a way to address world hunger, climate change, rural poverty, deforestation, and energy shortages… SIMULTANEOUSLY!

   Modern Pyrolysis of biomass is a process for Carbon Negative Bio fuels, massive Carbon sequestration,10X Lower Methane & N2O soil emissions, and 3X Fertility Too.
   Every 1 ton of Biomass yields 1/3 ton Charcoal for soil Sequestration, Bio-Gas & Bio-oil fuels, so is a totally virtuous, carbon negative energy cycle.

   Charles Mann (”1491″) in the Sept. National Geographic has a wonderful soils article which places Terra Preta / Biochar soils center stage.
   I think Biochar has climbed the pinnacle, the Combined English and other language circulation of NGM is nearly nine million monthly with more than fifty million readers monthly!
   We need to encourage more coverage now, to ride Mann’s coattails to public critical mass.

   Please put this (soil) bug in your colleague’s ears. These issues need to gain traction among all the various disciplines who have an iron in this fire.
   http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/soil/mann-text

   I love the “MEGO” factor theme Mann built the story around. Lord… how I KNOW that reaction.

   I like his characterization concerning the pot shards found in Terra Preta soils;

   so filled with pottery – “It was as if the river’s first inhabitants had
   thrown a huge, rowdy frat party, smashing every plate in sight, then
   buried the evidence.”

   Biochar data base;
   http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/?q=node

   I also have been trying to convince Michael Pollan ( NYT Food Columnist, Author ) to do a follow up story, with pleading emails to him

   Since the NGM cover reads “WHERE FOOD BEGINS” , I thought this would be right down his alley and focus more attention on Mann’s work.

   I’ve admiried his ability since “Botany of Desire” to over come the “MEGO” factor (My Eyes Glaze Over) and make food & agriculture into page turners.

   It’s what Mann hasn’t covered that I thought should interest any writer as a follow up article and your transition team

   The Biochar provisions by Sen.Ken Salazar in the 07 & 08 farm bill,
   http://www.biochar-international.org/newinformationevents/newlegislation.html

   NASA’s Dr. James Hansen Global warming solutions paper and letter to the G-8 conference, placing Biochar / Land management the central technology for carbon negative energy systems.
   http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0804/0804.1126.pdf

   The many new university programs & field studies, in temperate soils; Cornell, ISU, U of H, U of GA, Virginia Tech, New Zealand and Australia.

   Glomalin’s role in soil tilth, fertility & basis for the soil food web in Terra Preta soils.

   The International Biochar Initiative Conference Sept 8 in New Castle;
   http://www.biochar-international.org/ibi2008conference/aboutibi2008conference.html

   Given the current “Crisis” atmosphere concerning energy, soil sustainability, food vs. Biofuels, and Climate Change what other subject addresses them all?

   This is a Nano technology for the soil that represents the most comprehensive, low cost, and productive approach to long term stewardship and sustainability.

   Carbon to the Soil, the only ubiquitous and economic place to put it.

   Michael Pollan is well briefed about Biochar technology, but did not include it in his 8000 word, “Farmer & Chief” NYT’s article to President Obama, but I’m sure Biochar will be his 8001th word to you.

   Erich
   540 289 9750

   Total CO2 Equivalence:
   Once a commercial bagged soil amendment product, every suburban household can do it,
   The label can tell them of their contribution, a 40# bag = 150# CO2 = 160 bags / year to cover my personal CO2 emissions. ( 20,000 #/yr , 1/2 Average )
   http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html

   But that is just the Carbon!
   I have yet to find a total CO2 equivalent number taking consideration against some average field N2O & CH4 emissions. The New Zealand work shows 10X reductions.If biochar proves to be effective at reducing nutrient run-off from agricultural soils, then there will accordingly be a reduction in downstream N2O emissions.

   This ACS study implicates soil structure as main connection to N2O soil emissions;
   http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Paper41955.html

   biochar papers at the ACS Huston meeting see Ron Larson’s post http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/message/1852

   Biochar Studies at ACS Huston meeting;

   578-I: http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Session4231.html

   579-II http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Session4496.html

   665 – III. http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Session4497.html

   666-IV http://a-c-s.confex.com/crops/2008am/webprogram/Session4498.html

   Most all this work corroborates char soil dynamics we have seen so far . The soil GHG emissions work showing increased CO2 , also speculates that this CO2 has to get through the hungry plants above before becoming a GHG.
   The SOM, MYC& Microbes, N2O (soil structure), CH4 , nutrient holding , Nitrogen shock, humic compound conditioning, absorbing of herbicides all pretty much what we expected to hear.

   4 MYC mechanisms ?
   Why the Massive Fungi growth?
   4 mycorrhizae(MYC)mechanisms;
   These mechanisms are (in decreasing order of currently available evidence supporting them): (a) alteration of soil physico-chemical properties; (b) indirect effects on mycorrhizae through effects on other soil microbes; (c) plant–fungus signaling interference and detoxification of allelochemicals on biochar; and (d) provision of refugia from fungal grazers. We provide a roadmap for research aimed at testing these mechanistic hypotheses.

   Company News & EU Certification

   Below is an important hurtle that has been overcome in certification in the EU. Given that their standards are set much higher than even organic certification in the US, this work should smooth any bureaucratic hurtles we may face.

   EU Permit Authority – 4 years tests
   Subject: Fwd: [biochar] Re: GOOD NEWS: EU Permit Authority – 4 years tests successfully completed

   Doses: 400 kg / ha – 1000 kg / ha at different horticultural cultivars

   Plant height Increase 141 % versus control
   Picking yield Increase 630 % versus control
   Picking fruit Increase 650 % versus control
   Total yield Increase 202 % versus control
   Total piece of fruit Increase 171 % versus control
   Fruit weight Increase 118 % versus control

   There is list of the additional beneficial effects of the 3R FORMULATED BIOCHAREU DOSSIER for permit administration and summary of the results from 4 different Authorities who executed different test programme is under construction
   I suggest these independent and accredited EU relevant Authority permit field tests results will support the further development of the biochar application systems on international level, and providing case evidence, that properly made and formulated (plant and/or animal biomass based) biochars can meet the modern environmental – agricultural – human health inspection standards and norm, while supporting the knowledge based economical development.

   We work further on to expand not only in the EU but in the USA as well. My Cincinnati large scale carbonization project is progressing, hopefully the first industrial scale 3R clean coal – carbon plant will be ready in 2009.

   Sincerely yours: Edward Someus (environmental engineer)
   HOMEPAGE 3R AGROCARBON: http://www.3ragrocarbon.com

   http://www.terrenum.net
   EMAIL 1: edward@terrenum.net
   EMAIL 2: edward.someus@gmail.com

   Also:

   October 28, 2008

   U.S. Department of Agriculture to Evaluate CQuestâ„¢ Biochar

   Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement Signed

   The objective of the biochar research is to quantify the effects of amending soils with CQuestâ„¢ Biochar on crop productivity, soil quality, carbon sequestration and water quality. Field trials will involve incorporation of biochar in replicated field plots and on-farm strip trials with monitoring of crop yields, soil quality, water quality, emissions of greenhouse gasses, and soil carbon sequestration. Laboratory studies will involve amending soils with biochar and quantifying changes in soil quality and microbial activity during incubations.

   Biochar will be shipped from Dynamotive’s West Lorne facility to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) locations in Iowa, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, and other ARS locations. Initial results are expected during the 2009 growing season.

   http://www.dynamotive.com/en/biooil/biochar_tests.html

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