Mycorrhiza

[woodlander]

Biochar, an artificially produced medium, lasted over 2000 years in the Amazon ?---

 

Biochar is charcoal it was naturally produced by forest fires for millions of years If you go to the World Soil Archive in the Netherlands:biggrin: on average 10 to 20% of the soils are black carbon (source J Lehman Proff of Soil Biochemistry Cornell )

And the argument for introducing terra preta, which rightfully may not be exported from the Amazon area, being ?

 

Why import terra preta when we can make our own ?

 

Maybe first read just a little bit on the European tree species specific ecosystems and their soil food webs before presenting yourself as an advocate (or reseller ?) of yet another commercial product.

 

You are very knowledgable on fungus ,Fungus You need to get up to speed on the what is being achieved with Biochar .Biochar can be produced by all the members on this forum easily and in the future could be another income stream for them. as an Academic I'm sure you consider this as grubby commercialism but we can't all fly desks

[Fungus]

1. Biochar is charcoal it was naturally produced by forest fires for millions of years.

2. If you go to the World Soil Archive in the Netherlands on average 10 to 20% of the soils are black carbon.

3. Why import terra preta when we can make our own ? You need to get up to speed on the what is being achieved with Biochar. I'm sure you consider this as grubby commercialism

 

1. I know what Biochar is and I also know that Biochar is no Terra Preta, nor by origin, nor by composition, nor by content.

2. If you had taken a course on geology and paleontology, you would have known, that with Carboon, the geological era from 362,5 to 290 million years ago is meant, the period parts of The Netherlands were covered with tropical marshes or swamps with Sigillaria and Lepidodendron "tree" species and giant ferntrees and horsetails, of which the thick layers of peat and debri of plants were densily pressed to brown and black coal, not to charcoal, which Terra Preta is. So Carboon has nothing to do with forest fires or charcoal, because in that period there were no trees, i.e. there was no forest to burn.

3. You still don't seem to understand, that Terra Preta can not be artificially produced, and because I am familiar with what charcoal does to the natural soil food web, your right about one thing, I think it's a product to earn easy money with, without considering the consequences for the ecosystems of trees on the long run, so yes, it is grubby commercialism, just as mycorrhizal preparations are.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

1. I know what Biochar is and I also know that Biochar is no Terra Preta, nor by origin, nor by composition, nor by content.

2. If you had taken a course on geology and paleontology, you would have known, that with Carboon, the geological era from 362,5 to 290 million years ago is meant, the period parts of The Netherlands were covered with tropical marshes or swamps with Sigillaria and Lepidodendron "tree" species and giant ferntrees and horsetails, of which the thick layers of peat and debri of plants were densily pressed to brown and black coal, not to charcoal, which Terra Preta is. So Carboon has nothing to do with forest fires or charcoal, because in that period there were no trees, i.e. there was no forest to burn.

3. You still don't seem to understand, that Terra Preta can not be artificially produced, and because I am familiar with what charcoal does to the natural soil food web, your right about one thing, I think it's a product to earn easy money with, without considering the consequences for the ecosystems of trees on the long run, so yes, it is grubby commercialism, just as mycorrhizal preparations are.

 

[woodlander]

3. You still don't seem to understand, that Terra Preta can not be artificially produced, and because I am familiar with what charcoal does to the natural soil food web, .

 

What is your source for Terra Preta being produced naturally and not produced (artificially)by amazonian indians as accepted by most researchers

[ILikeScotsPine]

Really useful website for learning about mycorrhizae, much appreciated

[Fungus]

What is your source for Terra Preta being produced naturally and not produced (artificially) by amazonian indians as accepted by most researchers

 

Not what, who : you are my source and/or your quoted researchers, provided they are also stating, that : "Biochar (= Terra Preta ?) is charcoal it was naturally produced by forest fires for millions of years", without mentioning Amazonian indians producing and using it for (primitive) agriculture.

Terra Preta is the outcome of a natural biological "ripening" process of burnt and partially pulverised wood, to which millions of soil organisms attribute to and change the composition of the "charcoal" soil creating a special type of anorganic and organic soil food web, which is fertile and suitable for agriculture in the Amazon region, and not for forestry or reforestation, because trees need a completely different soil food web as part of their tree species specific ecosystems.

Research on mycology and forest ecology after natural, i.e. lighting stroke caused forest fires, has shown, that regeneration of the forest is highly dependend on the role parasitic, saprotrophic and ectomycorrhizal macrofungi play in killing the fire damaged trees, recycling the burnt wood and litter and "starting up" the seedlings, which germinate in the mineral rich soil. The macrofungi fruit in a rather fixed order or succession, starting with Heterobasidion annosum and Rhizina undulata as trunk base and root parasites, followed by saprotrophic recyclers such as Pyronema omphaloides and P. domesticum, Anthracobia melaloma and A. macrocystis, Trichophaea abundans and T. gregaria, Plicaria trachycarpa, P. anthracina and P. endocarpoides, Aleuria exigua, Peziza atrospora, P. petersii and P. subviolacea, Daldinia vernicosa (burnt birch), Psathyrella pennata, Pholiota highlandensis, Gymnopilus odini, Tephrocybe anthracophila and T. atrata, Coprinus angulatus and Fayodia anthracobia, and by pioneer ectomycorrhizal macrofungi like Geopyxis carbonaria.

Final conclusion : your "home made" charcoal and Biochar both neither have anything in common with Terra Preta, nor with the soil food web, which results from a natural process of revitalisation and recomposition of the soil after a forest fire.

You could just as well buy a king size bag of cheap barbecue charcoal or much more expensive norit pills, pulverize it and sell it for a good or even better price as Biochar, without anyone noticing the difference in its lack of benefit for the ecosystems of trees or forests.

Edited May 20, 2011 by Fungus

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

ha ha, your science rocks dude.

[woodlander]

1. I know what Biochar is and I also know that Biochar is no Terra Preta, nor by origin, nor by composition, nor by content.

3. You still don't seem to understand, that Terra Preta can not be artificially produced, and because I am familiar with what charcoal does to the natural soil food web, your right about one thing, I think it's a product to earn easy money with, without considering the consequences for the ecosystems of trees on the long run, so yes, it is grubby commercialism, just as mycorrhizal preparations are.

 

I dont think your science is up to date have a look at these :

First, work on the affinity of char & MYC & microbes;

 

Mycorrhizal responses to biochar in soil – concepts

and mechanisms

Daniel D. Warnock & Johannes Lehmann &

Thomas W. Kuyper & Matthias C. Rillig

 

http://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/lehmann/publ/PlantSoil%20300,%209-20,%202007,%20Warnock.pdf

 

 

Microorganisms;

Recent work by C. Steiner, at U of GA, showing a 52% reduction of NH3 loss when char is used as a composting accelerator. This will have profound value added consequences for the commercial composting industry by reduction of their GHG emissions and the sale of compost as a nitrogen fertilizer.

http://www.ibi2010.org/wp-content/uploads/BiocharPoultrySteiner.pdf

 

 

Proliferation of Microorganisms in Compost by Addition of Bamboo Charcoals (Shuji Yoshizawa, Michio Ohata, Satoko Tanaka)

 

 

SEM photograph of microorganism in bamboo charcoal.

In Japan, charcoal and compost of biomass waste have been used for a long time as soil improvers in farms. Wood and bamboo charcoals have pores of several microns or several ten microns which are suitable for microorganisms grown for composting the biomass waste.

It was observed as shown in the photograph (left) taken by scanning electron micrograph (SEM) technique that the microorganisms proliferated on the charcoal powder and in the pores of the charcoal.

http://acer.meisei-u.ac.jp/doc/acernews2/index_en.html

 

 

Michinori Nishio

National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences

Kannondai 3-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305 Japan, 1996-10-01

 

This Bulletin discusses microbial products in Japan, where they are used on many farms, particularly by organic farmers who hope that these products will improve nutrient uptake by plants and the quality of their products. It discusses the use of charcoal and rhizobia to stimulate nutrient uptake, and the use of arbuscular mycorrizal fungi (AMF) to help establish vegetation on barren land. The range of commercial AMF products available in Japan is briefly described, and their use and effectiveness in Japanese agriculture.Microbial Fertilizers in Japan

 

 

Microbial Fertilizers in Japan | Biochar Discussion List Web Site

 

Transect graph showing plant benefits decline beyond to 30% Char;

 

 

 

 

Figure 1. Box Plots Showing Effect of Composition Across Three Transects Box Plots Showing Effect of Composition Across Three Transects | Biochar Discussion List Web Site

 

Nice Crop Pictures;

http://www.biochar.info/biochar.biochar-overview.cfml

 

My 09 field trials with the Rodale Institute & JMU ;

Alterna Biocarbon and Cowboy Charcoal Virginia field trials '09

Alterna Biocarbon and Cowboy Charcoal Virginia field trials '09 | Biochar Discussion List Web Site

 

 

 

 

Research:

 

The Ozzie's for 6 years now in field studies

The future of biochar - Project Rainbow Bee Eater

The future of biochar - Project Rainbow Bee Eater(Science Alert)

 

The Japanese have been at it dacades:

Japan Biochar Association ;

http://www.geocities.jp/yasizato/pioneer.htm

 

UK Biochar Research Centre

UK Biochar Research Centre | Welcome to the UKBRC

 

ICHAR, the Italian Biochar Association

ICHAR - Associazione Italiana Biochar - Home

 

Virginia Tech is in their 5 th year with the Carbon Char Group's "CharGrow" formulated bagged product.

The 2008 trials at Virginia Tech showed a 46% increase in yield of tomato transplants grown with just 2 - 5 cups (2 - 5%) "CharGrow" per cubic foot of growing medium. A Biological Tool for Reducing Input Costs | East Coast Compost

 

USDA in their 3 rd year; "Novak, Jeff" <[email protected]>,

There are dozens soil researchers on the subject now at USDA-ARS.

and many studies at The ASA-CSSA-SSSA joint meeting;

Session: Biochar Use for Improving Environmental Quality: I

 

Work with aspirin is Amazing in Maize, 250% yield gains, 15 cobs per plant;

Trials in Maize, reactivating dormant genes using high doses of Salicylic acid and Charcoal | Biochar Discussion List Web Site

 

Char Testing:

This is the finest explanation I have read on the process of biochar testing. Hugh lays it out like medical triage to extract the data most needed for soil carbon sequestration. A triage for all levels of competence, the Para-Medic Gardener to the Surgeon Chem-Engineer.

Characterizing Biochars prior to Addition to Soils | Biochar Discussion List Web Site

 

Phosphorous Solution;

Microbial Fertilizers in Japan | Biochar Discussion List Web Site

 

Field Trial Data Base; The new version of BiocharDB has been released! To see it, please visit biocharbazaar.org.

 

Most recent studies out;

Imperial College test,

This work in temperate soils gives data from which one can calculate savings on fertilizer use, which is expected to be ongoing with no additional soil amending.

http://www.iop.org/EJ/article/1755-1315/6/37/372052/ees9_6_372052.pdf?request-id=22fb1902-1c23-4db8-8801-2be7e2f3ce1b

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

this is getting very interesting!

[Fungus]

I dont think your science is up to date have a look at these :

 

1. MYC & microbes ... Mycorrhizal responses to biochar in soil – concepts ... Thomas W. Kuyper

2. Poultry

3. Microorganisms ... Microorganisms ... microorganism ... commercial composting industry ... the sale of compost as a nitrogen fertilizer ... biomass waste ... microbal products ... microorganisms grown for composting the biomass waste ... microorganisms ... microbial products ... Microbial Fertilizers (in Japan)

4. Agro-Environmental Sciences ... soil improvers in farms ... many farms, particularly by organic farmers who hope that these products will improve nutrient uptake by plants ... highly intensive agriculture ... reducing input costs ... savings on fertilizer use

5. arbuscular mycorrizal fungi (AMF) ... commercial AMF products

6. Nice Crop Pictures ... crop productivity ... tomato transplants ... Maize ... Trials in Maize ... corn ... rice ... using high doses of Salicylic acid (and Charcoal)

7. Japan Biochar Association ... UK Biochar Research Centre ... ICHAR, the Italian Biochar Association ... the Para-Medic Gardener ... the Surgeon Chem-Engineer ... terrapreta.bioenergylists.org ... Biochar Discussion List Web Site (Buy Biochar, Companies making Biochar) ... The new version of BiocharDB has been released! To see it, please visit ...

 

And I don't think you really did read or study, let alone understand the articles, because if you would have had your "science" up to date, you would not have overlooked the following :

 

1. In this article, of which my Dutch collegue Thom Kuyper (Alterra, Wageningen University) is a co-author, a review of experiments on "both biochar additions and mycorrhizal abundance subject to management practice" is presented with the following remarks : "A few studies observed negative effects. There is potential for negative effects on mycorrhizal fungi. The species composition of a mycological fungal assemblage can be important to mycorrhizal functioning. Data on this important aspect of the response of mycorrhizal fungi to biochar are not yet available, but present an important priority for future studies."

2. What were you thinking, presenting a case of : "Biochar use in the Poultry Industry" producing chicken s..t as fertilizer ?

3. Microorganisms, more microorganisms, microbal products, microbial fertilizers, biomass waste : since when are microorganisms micro- or macrofungi, i.e. AMF- or ectomycorrhizal symbionts ?

4. Farms, more farms, agriculture, Agro-Environmental Sciences : where are the trees and (natural) forests, you keep referring to ?

5. Correction, there is one review of the effects of biochar and AMF on commercial, economical, short term life cycle forestry of trees, i.e. - surprise, surprise - wood (timber) production and - one could have expected this - of charcoal production .

6. Crops, maize, more maize, corn, tomato and rice. And good to know I can supply my home grown vegetables with an aspirin (or pulverized shoots and bark of Salix) when they are feeling poorly and not growing very well.

7. Who do you think are behind these websites and what is their obvious, not very "hidden" agenda ? And why are the producers and resellers of charcoal so fanatic and focussed on short term "results", as if their life - and not that of trees - and good fortune depends on it ?

 

Evaluating your "research" findings on the worldwideweb and in assuming you're the true field expert on tree species specific and forest ecosystems and their soil food webs, in which ectomycorrhizal macrofungi play a significant, if not the most important role, I - not being a "Para-Medic Gardener" or "Surgeon Chem-Engineer" - for my part end this "debate" on charcoal with the following conclusions :

- There is no evidence of positive effects of biochar (and commercial AMF-products) on trees or forests other then planted for commercial wood (timber) or charcoal production.

- There is no research at all on the effects of biochar on the soil food webs of tree species specific and (natural) forest ecosystems mainly depending on ectomycorrhizal symbionts.

- How can Quercus, Fagus, Betula, Populus, Salix, Alnus, Tilia, Carpinus, Castanea, Corylus, Pinus, Picea, Abies, Larix and Pseudotsuga, all of them being partners of ectomycorrhizal symbiotic macrofungi, profit from commercial AMF-products (and charcoal) ?

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Edited May 24, 2011 by Fungus