Tom B

What Does Obama's Cabinet Have in Store for Alternative Energy?

This will sound "hippy-dippy" to some readers, but the science you mention seems to be solid. Ira Flatow on Science Friday had a nice piece on bio charcoal last year.


On Jan 19 08:37 AM Erich J. Knight wrote:

> Biochar Soil Technology; terrapreta.bioenergyli...
>
>
> Senator
/
> Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar has done the most to nurse this
biofuels
> system in his Biochar provisions in the 07 &amp; 08 farm bill,<br/>
>
> www.biochar-internatio...
>
>
> Biotic
Carbon,
> the carbon transformed by life, should never be combusted,
oxidized
> and destroyed. It deserves more respect, reverence even, and
understanding
> to use it back to the soil where 2/3 of excess
atmospheric
> carbon originally came from.
>
> We all know we are
carbon-centered
> life, we seldom think about the complex web of recycled
bio-carbon
> which is the true center of life. A cradle to cradle,
mutually
> co-evolved biosphere reaching into every crack and crevice on
Earth.
>
>
> It's hard for most to revere microbes and fungus, but
from
> our toes to our gums (onward), their balanced ecology is our
health.
> The greater earth and soils are just as dependent, at much
longer
> time scales. Our farming for over 10,000 years has been
responsible
> for 2/3rds of our excess greenhouse gases. This soil
carbon,
> converted to carbon dioxide, Methane &amp; Nitrous oxide began
a
> slow stable warming that now accelerates with burning of fossil fuel.
>
>
> Wise Land management; Organic farming and afforestation can build
> back our soil carbon,
>
> Biochar
allows
> the soil food web to build much more recalcitrant organic
carbon,
> ( living biomass &amp; Glomalins) in addition to the carbon in
the
> biochar.
>
> 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!
>
>
>
> Charles Mann ("1491") in the Sept. National
Geographic
> has a wonderful soils article which places Terra Preta /
Biochar
> soils center stage.
>
> ngm.nationalgeographic...
>
> It's what Mann hasn't covered that I thought should interest any
> writer as a follow up article;
>
> Biochar data base;
>
> terrapreta.bioenergyli...
>
> 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.
>
> arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/pa...
>
> The
many
> new university programs &amp; field studies, in temperate soils;
Cornell,
> ISU, U of H, U of GA, Virginia Tech, JMU, New Zealand and
Australia.
>
>
> Glomalin's role in soil tilth, fertility &amp; basis for the soil
> food web in Terra Preta soils.
>
> 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.