Karl, I found no references listed at the end of the online summary of this article. Did you buy the full article (3.50 GBP)? If so, I'd like to get a copy. Comments following the article are interesting. I don't see how you get oxygen reductions unless you are significantly reducing the total amount of photosynthesis or providing some significant new O2 sink. The oxygen associated with increasing atmospheric CO2 levels, measured in tens/hundreds of ppm cannot, in itself, significantly impact its 30% O2 content. Right? Tony
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Monday, September 07, 2009 12:55 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [SustainableTompkins] More on biochar http://www.i-sis.org.uk/bewareTheBiocharInitiative.php This critical study of the state of the scientific literature on biochar draws the most negative conclusions of any yet I have seen. In their conclusion, the authors state: "It is clear that biochar has not lived up to its promises as a stable C repository or enhancer of crop yields. On the other hand, the risk of oxygen depletion is real [1-3]. Biochar itself is an oxygen sink in the course of degrading in the soil [24. 32]; adding to the depletion of oxygen that cannot be regenerated because trees have been turned into biochar for burial. And worse, as in the biofuels boom that has already apparently speeded up deforestation and oxygen depletion since 2003 [2], if biochar is promoted under the Clean Development Mechanism, it will almost certainly further accelerate deforestation and destruction of other natural ecosystems (identified as 'spare land') for planting biochar feedstock, and swing the oxygen downtrend that much closer towards mass extinction." Repeatedly the authors draw parallels with the biofuels scientific and agribusiness feeding frenzy, which was initially abetted by heavy taxpayer subsidies. That boondoggle is now on the wane as scientific support has been revealed as largely junk science or pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking by a scientific community whose training is typically too narrow to consider the important questions and variables that need to be asked when proposing application of lab science results to the real world. This article is worth a close look, coming from an organization that has been consistently ahead of the curve, especially on scientific questions relevant to the design of a sustainable agriculture. Karl North Northland Sheep Dairy, Freetown, New York USA www.geocities.com/northsheep/ "Pueblo que canta no morira" - Cuban saying "They only call it class warfare when we fight back" - Anon. ____________________________________________________________ Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTFoYbLefitRW8C2Eo5jHnl bLLORVCwkwYDFUYCbIh88XldXLwr4v2/ _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins Questions about the list? ask [email protected] free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins Questions about the list? ask [email protected] free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
