biochar – an ancient knowledge for a sustainable future · biochar – an ancient knowledge for a...

Biochar – an ancient knowledge for a sustainable future

Bojca Januš - Gajin vrt

WEB: www.gajinvrt.moonfruit.com BLOG: www.permakulturazatelebane.wordpress.com

CONTACT: [email protected] * 040 325 939

http://www.gajinvrt.moonfruit.com/

http://www.permakulturazatelebane.wordpress.com/

mailto:[email protected]

Gajin vrt, Bojca Januš * www.gajinvrt.moonfruit.com

The discovery of Terra preta• 1541: an expedition to

the Amazon basin. The Spanish Conquistadors searching for El Dorado and cinnamon.

• Instead of that: Francisco de Orellana discovers Terra preta (port. black soils), an extremely fertile soil of anthropogenic orogin, with an amazing quality of reproducing itself, and the Amazon river gets it`s name.


The lost knowledge450 B.C. – 950 A.D.

On the left: poor jungle soil On the right: Terra Preta


Terra Preta- Areas: from several m2 to 2 ha- Depth: up to 2 m- Extreme fertility- Capable of reproducing itself (1 cm a year)- The total amount is unknown- Contains char, animal and human secretions

and remains, domestic scraps, bones- Of anthropogenic origin (proved by Wim

Sombroek)


Wim Sombroek Amazon basin, 1950

Wim Sombroek was able to connect his knowledge of Terra Preta with his memories of WW2 hunger in Netherland, when his father saved them by providing food – because of his knowledge of preserving fertile and healthy soil. Wim Sombroek proved that terra Preta is of anthropogenic origin.


Biochar – ways of usage


Reverse mining – biochar reduces emission of greenhouse gases


Biochar for the developed and less developed parts of world Fertile, lively soil Efficient usage of left-

over biomass “Healthy” cooking Carbon sequestration -

reverse mining


IBI, developing world and biochar

Pyrolitic stoves are the red thread, a link that runs through all parts of our planet. They are a possible solution to prevent 2 MIO of deaths caused by diseases that mostly effect mothers and children – because of cooking on open fires.


Biochar in developed countries

Funds for farmers, who decide to use biochar on their farms ...

Many reseraches are lead at the Universities, on Institutes ...

Very much activity is going on in Australia, UK, USA, China, Vietnam, Swiss, Germany ...


The effects of inoculated biochar work in soil

Biochar enriches poor soil. The little pores in biochar offer safe environment for the beneficial microorganisms. They can reproduce safely and successfully and therefore enhance the life in soil. Biochar in soil can be rcompared to effect of coral reefs - a typical example how safe environment directly influences the biota diversity. Soil with added inoculated biochar becomes rich in structure, retains the nutrients and moisture much easier (which means that less watering and fertilising is needed), and therefore offers a more stable environment for the plants, while the possibilty of erosion is reduced. Rich soil, full of life, provides growth of healthy and strong plants, which can resist illnesses, pests and climate changes in a much more effective way.


Possible longterm effects

Biochar enhances soil`s fertility in a natural way but also has another significant effect. By returning carbon to soil, we reduce the total amount of it in the atmosphere, where it is, combined with oxygen, one of the main greenhouse gases. The production and usage of biochar is therefore also called „The reverse mining“. The biochar pioneers presume that biochar will be just as important for the 21st Century as artificial fertilizers were for the 20th century – with the exception that biochar preserves the life in soil and enriches it.


Dr. Paul Anderson TLUD Biochar stove

A sustainable process:

* Biochar is prepared through the process of pyrolisis

* Source: dry left-over biomass

* Temperatures: 550 do 700 °C – safe for PAH

* The gasses tha are released during the process are being used as a source of energy (for cooking)


Presentation of TLUD Biochar stove – how does it work

Link 1:

Burning process in a TLUD gasifier

Link 2:

TLUD Gasifier stove

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm0JR6ikpL0


DIY biochar- TLUD Biochar stove- Barrel- Kiln- Material: dry left-over biomass- IMPORTANT: Use the gases efficiently

and in a sustainable way (methane and propane are greenhouse gases just as CO2 is!)

- Wood piles, burning – out of date and harmful!


Preparing biochar: Adam retort


Preparing biochar: barrel or kiln


Preparing biochar: in a stove or a furnace


On the left: biochar On the right: left-over dry biomass


Charred biomass retains it`s form, but chemically becomes

more or less pure carbon


Biochar structure as seen through a microscope


Inoculation of biochar

The prepared biochar is being cooled and crushed to enhance the surface and then stirred with compost or other organic substances. It should stay that way for at least 1 month, so that it can be inoculated by the useful microorganisms.


How does biochar effect the growth of plants

Vir: Stephanie Donaldson, Country Living Magazine

On the far left: plants growing in compost with biochar


An experiment: Slovenia 2012

The compost with biochar is in the left container.


An experiment: Slovenia 2012

The upper container contains compost with biochar, all the other conditions were the same.


Biochar and earthworms

The vermiculture experiment:

3 mugs of food for earthworms with different amounts of biochar added.

Result: earthworms preferred food with the largest part of added biochar in it.


Ecological Biochar and Composts with biochar – Soil Association Certificate


Gajin vrt, Bojca Januš s.p.Zaplana 54 f, 1373 Rovte

WEB: www.gajinvrt.moonfruit.com

CONTACT: mail [email protected] * mobile 040 325 939

BLOG: Permakultura za telebane

http://permakulturazatelebane.wordpress.com/

http://www.gajinvrt.moonfruit.com/

mailto:[email protected]

http://permakulturazatelebane.wordpress.com/

biochar – an ancient knowledge for a sustainable future · biochar – an ancient knowledge for a...

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