The Promise of Biochar - Part 1

[stap0510]

Skepticism is at the heart of sincere science.

It's too easy to fall for a Pavlov-reaction where all contrasting view to the hype of climate are being condemned and labelled.

And we should not forget that centuries ago the majority of people thought the world was flat.

Majorities are not always right, but condemning and labeling contrasting views is by definition unscientific and wrong.

[Soldier957]

Is there any concern on the oils formed (non-burned gasses) as carcinogens when they are applied to the soil? Should I till in the char in the soil ASAP?

[jeffery19677]

Biochar seems like a good idea for agricultural uses. It is NOT going to cool off the planet... Global warming is NOT man made. We are in a NORMAL cycle of planetary warming. It is arrogant to think otherwise with no real proof. Correlation does not equal causation. Do this because it is good for your LOCAL soil and plants. It is not saving the planet, but it will grow nicer corn.

[CBlargh]

@jeffery19677

... so do you think humans have not increased CO2 concentrations by 30 percent since the industrial revolution or do you think CO2 in the atmosphere does not increase surface temperature?

What kind of proof might you need to believe anthropogenic global warming is currently occurring?

[jeffery19677]

@CBlargh No, I do not think humans have caused an increase in co2.

Google "global volcanism program" One volcano can put out more than man has ever done. Rotting debris in a forest (or compost pile) gives off the same co2 as burning that material. As far as proof. I would need scientist who don't "tweak" data to fit their cause, Google "climategate". The hockey stick chart that Algore loves so much is a lie. The earth is a self-correcting, evolving system.

[CBlargh]

@jeffery19677

Are you saying humans produce no carbon dioxide? What comes out of your tailpipe then? Unicorns?

You are right, rotting forests give off as much CO2 as burning forests. Maybe what you don't realise is that 99% of the carbon in plants comes from the atmosphere to start with, so both burning and rotting are carbon-neutral.

What scientist has tweaked what data for what cause? What is climategate and why is it important? What does the hockey stick chart show?

[jeffery19677]

@CBlargh Unicorns only exist in a fictitional book called The Bible. Oil comes from the earth. It was once plant matter. So therefore, releasing the carbon in oil, is carbon-neutral, too. I know farmers who, through proper management of pastures, are INCREASING the carbon in the soil where it belongs. They have to use LESS and LESS chemical fertilizers to raise the same amount of cattle. I still believe LOCAL is the solution to any pollution problems. Global warming has been debunked.

[CBlargh]

@jeffery19677

Aha! A part-time skeptic, are you?

That is true! The carbon in fossil fuel was once in the atmosphere as well, and was slowly sequestered over millions of years. Burning it releases ALL that carbon at once, and increases the carbon blanket to a level so high that we have no idea whether or not the ecology will have the ability to remove it.

Are you saying the earth is not warming or that carbon has no effect on surface temperature? What's been debunked?

[jeffery19677]

@CBlargh I am saying that MAN is not responsible for any change of temperature.. Yes, burning a tree releases all the co2. Greenhouse growers ADD co2 in the greenhouses because it INCREASES PLANT GROWTH RATES. Increased plant growth rates removes CO2 from the atmosphere. The earth is a self-correcting system. wwwjohn-dalycom/hockey/hockey is a pretty good discussion.. I am saying that Both arguments have been debunked. Our temp fluctuates with our without man.

[CBlargh]

@jeffery19677

The earth is not warming? NASA says it is. What other space agency found this to be false?

If atmospheric carbon doesn't warm a planet, why is Venus twice as hot as Mercury despite being farther from the sun?

I thought you just said plants release all they carbon they've sequestered when they rot or burn. Why would you now say increased plant growth removes more CO2 from the atmosphere?

What makes you think the earth won't self-correct humans right off it?

[jeffery19677]

@CBlargh Nasa also says Muslims have contributed to science, too. I don't put much stock in what they say. I don't know why Venus is hotter. Organic matter decays and releases carbon, nitrogen and all minerals contained therein. Plants absorb co2 in their respiratory cycle. An increase in atmospheric greenhouse co2 results in an INCREASE of plant growth. If you want to save the world, plant more trees!

[CBlargh]

@jeffery19677

If you don't believe NASA, what space agency do you believe? Whose satellites clued you in to the "fact" that the earth is not warming?

Venus is hotter than Mercury because of the greenhouse effect. Atmospheric carbon causes surface warming on planets. It's simple science. Any questions?

If there is increased plant growth, wouldn't this result in increased CO2 emissions when the plants die and decay?

What do you think is the whole point of pyrolysis?

o_O

[paulgem123]

Very interesting. I will experiment with it and add rack dust minerals on my own and see what happen. I wonder how it would work to add it to a compost pile? Thank you very much, great video.

[jeffery19677]

@paulgem123 Remember, a compost pile only works if the carbon/nitrogen ratio is right. You will need extra manure for it to work properly.. Biochar can be added to the soil in small amounts. Carbon is the natural fuel for plant growth. Do plenty more research before you go crazy adding it to your compost pile. Good luck!!

[jreynolds5201]

Well done.

[hablerz]

Adding soil amendments and blindly following farming practices that are not sustainable is not the long term solution.

[hablerz]

Sure , spread this stuff all over the fields - soon as you start ploughing it it will degrade and oxidise into carbon dioxide.

[komatsukid1]

Carbon is an excellent binding agent. It's also used in both air and water filtration systems. The benefit of applying chemical fertilizer with carbon is that the carbon absorbs the chemical fertiizer and then acts as a bank that the plants can draw nutrients from over a longer period of time as well as benefiting from the initial chemical application.  Not a miracle product, but there seems to be promise as using it as a complement to chemical fertilizer.

[BiokohleNews]

Very good movie, checkout my website.

[propositionjohnston]

There was a fellow on youtube who did his own (non Scientific ) study and claimed that the PH. of the soil is to high when you using Biochar, but his test sample was using soil with 25% charcoal?

Does anyone know about this?

c

[WoodsEndLaboratory]

@propositionjohnston "This fellow" has operated a soil lab for 30 years. 25% by vol is less than 5% on a weight basis. We agronomists expect huge benefits not serious side-effects from such applications.

[romedeiros70]

Soil PH is quite complex, so no conclusion is possible without significantly more data.

In theory, char should not significantly alter PH, especially in the percentage that SHOULD be added. If we go crazy and add too much, it could impact PH.

Ideally, the char should be added to soil or compost and allowed to "Age" for a while.

[panstriato2]

Biochar does have a hi PH but most soils are acid anyway, also if it gives you PH problems, there are ways to get it back where you want it

[cinndave]

@propositionjohnston 25% sounds like way too much. A carbon content of 5-12% is all it takes.

[curbina]

I'm researching the use of Biochar in desert (hyper arid) conditions here in the north of Chile. It's promising allready. It takes a switch of mindset in the head of crop producers, but we can't afford (as mankind) not seeking it with passion.

[hablerz]

@curbina I wonder if you are familiar with permaculture techniques and Geoff Lawtons work in Jordan. He has shown that amazing results can be attained in very arid regions with high salt content soil using no chemicals whatsoever.

Permaculture techniques enable to soil to become richer year after year instead of requiring huge chemical and water inputs .

[jcng5]

can u use it to make desert bloom?

[cascadiabiochar]

why not?

[GarethKeenan101]

@cascadiabiochar Yea...but that wouldn be in keeping with the NATURAL run of things,I dont think you were being serious...But,Biochar technology without doubt needs to be embraced by humankind,we cant play God tho!! Theres a Balance that shouldn be interfered with...We're all doomed anyway!!

[hablerz]

@jcng5 Permaculture can transform the worlds deserts into food productive areas.

All it needs is a strategy and realising the importance of trees to food production systems, i cant emphasise how important trees are.