Tony, So far I have not bought full articles from ISIS, although I have been interested enough in the references of many of them to consider subscribing to the journal. I don't have enough background in the science of the O2 question to offer a useful opinion. Regardless of the oxygen question, I think other questions the article raised about biochar are grounds for caution.
Karl On Tue, 8 Sep 2009 07:38:54 -0400 "Anthony Nekut" <[email protected]> writes: > 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 > > ____________________________________________________________ Online Bachelor Degree Get a degree today and enhance your career and your income! Apply now. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=k5G8C3150-tjjecB6aEyNgAAJ1B3xrWZQZfhuPn7Zx_iV2uNAAQAAAAFAAAAAKjapj8AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFXZAAAAAAA== _______________________________________________ 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
