Transcript How to make biochar

Confronting
Climate Change
AN INTRODUCTION
PARADIGM
SHIFT
HOW TO
Sequester Carbon
Global Warming
Regenerate Soil
Unstable Economics
Nutrient-Dense Food
Biological Degeneration
Produce Biofuels
Fossil Fuel Addiction
Confronting
Climate Change
A DEFINITION
1.
Soil Tests
2.
Mineral Ratios program to adjust major minerals & trace elements
3.
Biochars
minimum annual application: initial 1000 lbs./acre
4.
Composts
organic matter digestion & feeding program
5.
Inoculants
microbe inoculation & feeding for The Soil Food Web
6.
Cover Crops
continuous ground cover & minimum tillage
7.
Rotations
long-term, rapid rotations of crops & livestock
8.
Marketing
low carbon, eco-local distribution & sale
annual increase in measured carbon, up to 9%
Confronting
National Conference on Cover Crops & Soil Health
Cover Crops
continuous ground cover
& minimum tillage
Soil health is a new initiative of
Climate
Change
USDA Natural Resources
Conservation
Service (NRCS)
February 18, 2014
Summer : industrial-scale
agriculture
kicks off this major effort
Four
Practices
Identical
to farms
from Ohio to Nebraska
Forum
on
Cover
Crops
and Soil Health:
set Brandt
apart of
from
other
farmers
– vast fields
corn
& soybeans
Harvesting
the
Potential
First:
dedication
to
off-season
cover
crops
:
no-till,
cover
crop
agriculture
Winter
webinar broadcast live from Omaha
Currently
used
on
1%lie
of
US
farmland
yearly
200 free
meetings
andfallow
soil health
Neighbors’
fields
–demonstrations
bare &
brown
Buffett
Brandt’s
fieldstoHoward
are
green
with cover crops
Second:
hostility
tilling
IL farmer,
conservationist,
philanthropist
with
up to
plant species –
SoldFall
his plantings
tillage
equipment
in 14
1971
Tom Vilsack
– blanket
soilaindisruptive
winter
Considers
tillage
practice
USDA Secretary of Agriculture
– protect soil
from
weather
Disassembles
soil
foodextreme
web infrastructures
The
Big
Picture:
– feed
sugarfor
to soil
microbes
Third:
fondness
earthworms
Cover
Crops&&complexity
Soil Health
– Conservation,
support biological
diversity
Fourth:
wheat
to corn-soy
rotation
Four Midwest
cash crop farmers
– rotadds
in place
in spring
28-minute
video OH
DeSutter,
INyoutube
- Dave
Brandt,
Corn-soyDan
favored
all over
Corn
Belt
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWXCLVCJWTU
Clay
Mitchell,
Gabepatterns
Brown,
Third
disrupts
pest
Halfcrop
Brandt’s
cornweed
& IA
soy&- flourish
withoutND
fertilizer,
“Try to mimic Mother Nature.
noted for focus on soil health, cover crops
farmers
in Stanley County,
Iowa
State University
study: NC
and2012
noThree
herbicides;
Cover crops work together
conservation tillage, and farm profitability
on half
how
they
use
multi-species
cover
crops
3rd
crop
cutsless
herbicide
& agrichemical
use
will gets
describe
benefits
of consultants
their
soil management
Other
than
recommend
like a community
Covereconomic
crop use ranges
from cereal
rye& ryegrass
to realize
returns
on their
investment
– you have many people helping Promise
of
no-till,
cover-crop
Farming
to crimson
clover,
vetch
& oilseed radishesService
USDA Natural
Resources
Conservation
thehairy
first
year
instead of one.”
Reduce
use
Advocates
Soilagrichemical
Stewardship
After
the
webinar:
videosoil
produced
inweb
partnership
by
food
biology
David Brandt
TrainsRegenerate
agents
to
teach
farmers
about
cover
crops
local
discussion
groups
Dr. Robin 'Buz' Kloot, Earth Sciences & Resources Institute
plan
Grower
meetings
&&
summer
field days
Adapt
toisextreme
weather
climate
Brandt’s
farm
a Discussion
site
used
trainCarolina
NRCS
agents
1,200 acre farm
University
oftoSouth
Info
& assistance
for Cover
soil
health
management
National
Conference
on
Crops
& Soil
Health
Keep
heartland
churning
out
food
USDA
NRCS
East National
Technology
Support
Center
Carroll, central Ohio (pop. 524)
Under Cover Farmers
Confronting
Climate Change
A DEFINITION
1.
Soil Tests
2.
Mineral Ratios fertility program to adjust element levels
3.
Biochars
minimum annual application: initial 500 lbs./acre
4.
Composts
soil digestive system & feeding program
5.
Inoculants
microbial inoculation & feeding program
6.
Cover Crops
continuous ground cover & minimum tillage
7.
Rotations
long-term, rapid rotations of crops & livestock
8.
Marketing
Low carbon, eco-local distribution
annual increase in measured carbon, up tp 9%
Confronting
Rotations
long-term, rapid rotations
of crops & livestock
Climate Change
Soil Carbon Coalition
www.soilcarboncoalition.org
put the carbon back where it belongs
To advance the practice
and engage people in opportunities
to turn atmospheric carbon into soil organic matter
Livestock : land improvement by grazing
UK National Trust
Dr. Allan Savory Holistic Management
Grass-fed beef is better for people and land.
Carbon Farmers of America
Abe Collins
Feeding cattle grass throughout their life is
Joel Salatin Mob grazing & Chicken tractor the most sustainable way to raise beef.
Greg Judy
Grass-fed beef
Gary Zimmer Biological Agriculture
www.ted.com/talks/allan_savory_how_to_green_the_world_s_deserts_and_rever
se_climate_change
Crops : carbon storage by plant biomass
plant successions & services
biodiversity & polycultures
plant & insect communities
weed & pest control
home-grown fertility
This is contrary to belief livestock farming
must intensify to feed increasing population.
Debate on climate change & food often calls
for reduced meat eating and plant-based
diet, but overlooks the fact many grasslands
are unsuitable for continuous cropping.
Grasslands support many ecosystem
services: watersheds, wildlife, biodiversity,
carbon capture, weather, etc.
Grazing livestock can contribute to
grassland maintenance to turn grass into
human food.
Confronting
Rotations
Climate Change
long-term, rapid rotations
of crops & livestock
Karoo Region of South Africa
average rainfall: 23 cm/year
Holistic Planned Grazing
Conventional
Continuous Grazing
higher stocking densities
tightly packed herds
frequent movements
well-planned rotations
no technology, irrigation, or fertilizer
mimic behavior of natural herds with predators
quickens desertification
Reversing desertification is a global warming mitigation strategy
because carbon is stored in stable, long-lasting organic matter in soil
Conversion of semi-desert to healthy savanna = carbon capture of 25 to 60 t C/ha
Improvement in soil and vegetation restores water tables
Vegetation cover contributes to evaporative cooling PHOTO: Kroon Family
Confronting
Rotations
Zimbabwe
Climate Change
long-term, rapid rotations
average rainfall: 60 cm/year
of
crops
&
livestock
Barren land eroding for decades transformed to healthy grassland savanna
Karoo Region of South Africa
average rainfall: 23 cm/year
Holistic Planned Grazing
Conventional
In one year, fast-growing, short-rooted
Grazing
annuals Continuous
start to grow (white stringy
plants)
heavy concentration of 500 cattle
higher
stocking densities
corralled on site 7 to 10 evenings
Land is put in
a monitored
grazing plan
tightly
herds
quickens
desertification
left packed
excess dung
& plant litter
frequent
movements
Eventually, as grazing plan continues, site will be covered in perennials
well-planned
rotations
If grazing
stops, plants oxidize, and land likely returns to desert
no
technology,
or fertilizer
After
full recoveryirrigation,
in 25−30 years,
SOC density will increase to 25−60 tons C/ha
mimic behavior of natural herds with predators
Dense annuals provide ground cover
to retain moisture & build biodiversity in soil
Annuals are first-phase in restoration,
but soil carbon capture is minimal
After 8 years, perennials appear
(taller pinkish-beige plants)
Deep roots accelerate
soilACHM,
carbonSeth
capture
PHOTO:
Kroon
Family
Photos:
Itzkan
Confronting
Climate Change
Rotations
long-term, rapid rotations
Las
Pilas Ranch, Coahuila, Mexico
of crops
& livestock
average rainfall: 50 cm/year
Regionland
of South
Africa
In 25 Karoo
years, barren
completely
revived
average rainfall: 23 cm/year
Holistic Planned Grazing
Conventional
Continuous
Grazing
Pond is
grown over and no longer
needed,
higher stocking densities
Looks to be more water in 1963,
as dried-up springs
flow year-round
again
tightly
packed
herds
quickens
desertification
but runoff was
captured
by a man-made pond;
even a 6-inch rain is all absorbed,
a 1-inch
rain filled the pond
frequent
movements
with no standing water in the pond
well-planned rotations
no technology, irrigation, or fertilizer
mimic behavior of natural herds with predators
PHOTOS: Guillermo Osuna
Restoration with Holistic Planned Grazing started in 1978
Livestock doubled; grazing by a plan to give close attention to grass health
In 2003, restored land holds six times more water than depleted terrain
Water is held in soil and vegetation in a state called “green water”
PHOTO: Kroon Family