Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Various projects are being conducted to improve agricultural soil in tropical
regions. At a conference in Davos, Switzerland, I met an Indian scientist involved
in a project to add charcoal to arable land in southern India. The project uses special
burners with reduced oxygen intake to char sticks, branches and other household
biomass. The charcoal is then scattered on local fields. The initiative aroused my
interest and I was put in touch with one of the coordinators, David Friese-Greene.
By email he told me about banana plantations where yields had risen by 30 % after
charcoal had been added to the soil during planting. He stressed it was vital to add
urine or other nutrients to the charcoal before applying it to the soil. In my opinion,
urine-separating dry toilets will have an important role to play in the future.
In one of his emails David asked me if I knew Folke Günther. The name was
unfamiliar, but after a little research I discovered that Folke was not only Swedish
and involved in biochar but that he also lived near my home. Indeed, it turned out I
cycled past his house on my way to work. I sent him an email and received a reply
almost immediately: he was developing a new biochar burner that he would be
testing at the weekend and I was welcome to join him.
And so I joined a small group of fellow biochar enthusiasts in Folke's garden
to watch the burner in action. Pyrolysis gases emitted during the charring process
were put to good use when Folke lit them and used the heat to cook a wok full
of meat and vegetables. Once the fire had died we found the burner full of bio-
char ready to be used in the garden. Folke explained that not only did the biochar
fix carbon dioxide that would otherwise be released into the air, it also made his
vegetables grow better. It was an enjoyable evening—and one with an optimistic
atmosphere as we discussed how knowledge from the rainforest could help us look
after the little sliver of Earth on which we live.
Further Readings
Belshe EF et al (2013) Tundra ecosystems observed to be CO
2
sources due to differential amplifi-
cation of the carbon cycle. Ecol Lett 10:1307-1315
Cordell D et al (2009) The story of phosphorus: global food security and food for thought. Glob
Environ Change-Hum Policy Dimensions 19:292-305
Gunwick NP et al (2013) A systematic review of biochar research, with a focus on its stability in
situ, and its promise as a climate mitigation strategy. PLoS One 8:e75932
Novotny EH et al (2006) The “Terra Preta” phenomenon: a model for sustainable agriculture in
the humid tropics. Naturwissenschaften 88:37-41
Olefeldt D et al (2012) Net carbon accumulation of a high-latitude permafrost palsa mire similar
to permafrost-free peatlands. Geophys Res Lett 39:L03501