Ten thousand years of civilization is based on ten inches of topsoil. Without it we'd all be bushmen. Now, imagine a simple agricultural soil amendment with the ability to double or triple plant yields while at the same time reducing the need for fertilizer and therefore decreasing nitrogen- and phosphorus-laden runoff. As if that's not enough, what if this amazing ingredient also had the potential to cut greenhouse gases on a vast scale? This revolutionary substance exists, and it isn't high-tech, or even novel--the history of its use can be traced back to pre-Columbian South America. The ingredient is charcoal, in this context called biochar or agrichar.( ES&T Journal )
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Enrique Gili is a freelance writer covering Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS), issues for regional magazines in the Southland and beyond. I live in Ocean Beach, San Diego the coolest beach town around.
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Ancient Soil Ammendment Proves Fertile
Category: Environment • Technology
Posted on: August 1, 2007 12:04 PM, by EJGili
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Though I am an avid gardener I have never heard of this. But after reading this post I did a bit of quick internet browsing and I think this is a very fascinating subject. I hope you will post some more about it.
Posted by: Gary | August 1, 2007 11:00 PM
Thank you Enrique for finding this one. It's beyond interesting and after contemplating it oh so simple. Charcoal is used in water filters, good for an ailing digestion, and no doubt the list goes on.
I remember reading about the Nazi concentration camps where if a prisoner became sick he was instrusted by another prisoner to go eat the charcoal off of a piece of burnt wood. Nine times out of 10 it cured their problem.
Posted by: Sound | August 2, 2007 02:09 PM