Work log for operational test of "Terra Preta"

[cascadiamax]

Cowboy Charcoal at $5 for an 8lb bag is equal to $1250/ton. That should be easy to compete with.

 

If you are close to the cherry, apple or pear orchards near Hood River or the peach orchards near Enterprise, there should be some organic farms interested in getting a fertile biochar to work with. There should also be farms near La Grande that might want to experiment.

 

They would need more than bags, though. The ABRI 1 DTPD process probably describes the feedstock rate, of which the biochar is likely to be 25%, for about 90 tons of biochar per year. You should be able to get about $600/ton if it is dry mixed with NPK, organic manure and microbials. That should make the best TP soil, and competes with inorganic fertilizer prices.

 

Nurseries, if any in NE Oregon, should be early adopters. Remember, you will have a carbon-negative product. That is your pitch. Who would NOT want to sell carbon-negative fruit, grain, hay, seed, or potatoes?

[Cedars]

Hi Taildragerdriver

 

Working from memories of the farm....

 

Berries need low nitrogen ferts to increase berry size. High Nitrogen = green growth and smaller berries. Look into soil requirements for blueberries, it could be your prepped soil would be great for berries and possibly tomatoes.

 

Another aspect for sales as is might be as compost enhancer/foundation mix.

 

It would be great to find a market for your product as is, giving you capitol to expand for multi terra preta products later.

[cascadiamax]

Cedars,

 

The Oregon State University Extension Service is suggesting 100 lbs/acre of Nitrogen for mature pear trees, one half of which comes from the current-season fertilizer application and the remainder from the soil N pool. It is applied one month prior to harvest. For blueberries, the recommendation is 120lbs/acre, but I can recall no berry crops in that region. Those do not seem to be low N numbers, but then, I am not a farmer in the area.

 

Tree crops like a PH of 6.0. Would a slightly acidic char as reported earlier in this thread cause Oregon high desert soils to go below that number and require lime?

 

Some balanced kind of biochar fertilizer is needed here, with all the goodies plants need. All the NPKSMgBZn and lime seems to come from a mine somewhere and gets lost in the process of production. It sounds like Terra Preta soils will give base nutrient retention capability to the soil from which a sustainable fertility can be maintained with renewable manure type nutrients.

[Cedars]

Cedars,

 

The Oregon State University Extension Service is suggesting 100 lbs/acre of Nitrogen for mature pear trees, one half of which comes from the current-season fertilizer application and the remainder from the soil N pool. It is applied one month prior to harvest. For blueberries, the recommendation is 120lbs/acre, but I can recall no berry crops in that region. Those do not seem to be low N numbers, but then, I am not a farmer in the area.

 

Tree crops like a PH of 6.0. Would a slightly acidic char as reported earlier in this thread cause Oregon high desert soils to go below that number and require lime?

 

Some balanced kind of biochar fertilizer is needed here, with all the goodies plants need. All the NPKSMgBZn and lime seems to come from a mine somewhere and gets lost in the process of production. It sounds like Terra Preta soils will give base nutrient retention capability to the soil from which a sustainable fertility can be maintained with renewable manure type nutrients.

 

Ah, I need to clarify.

 

During the green growth phase of the strawberry plant, N is fine. Around bloom time we cut the Nitrogen down greatly (and I cannot remember but think potassium increase) to get prime fruit development. But these strawberrys bloomed early in the season and were done before the end of June.

 

For around here, acidic soils are preferred by black berry type plants.

 

I suggested blueberries because I know they are a prime crop in Oregon and vaguely remembered acidic soil requirement.

 

Growing Blueberries In Your Home Garden, EC 1304

 

We have blueberries north of here but they are tiny compared to oregon and grow on teeny ground bushes that are usually 1 foot or so tall. More long than tall.

 

Anyways, the link above indicates high acidity, and N ferts all year first year plants (and dont allow fruiting) and further info indicates early N, which indicates it has a similar low nitro during fruiting.

 

If Tail has acidic soil now, the char base would suck up the properties of this soil and (as I understand biochar) may make his biochar extra useful for plants requiring the acidic soils. The base is there.

 

This is also why I suggested bagging it up as is for compost base. The compost pile would add the extra organics to the char and the acidic soil would be enhanced by the organics from the composting.

 

Fruit trees are different and I dont know anything about their care requirements.

[cascadiamax]

... and I neglected to concur with your comment about using biochar as a compost extender. Also, good points on acidity.

 

Notes well taken on blueberries, blackberries and strawberries. Taildragerdriver's distribution area is in the non-berry part of the state, so perhaps nursery, pasture, orchard, compost additives, and garden stores are his only options for sales.

[Taildragerdriver]

Thanks: Cedars and Cascadiamax:

 

We are really concentrating on getting permits and putting together a business plan now. There is one issue that is kind of going the wrong way now. The price of oil has really come down and therefor the profit margin for our bio-oil will come down a bit. So value of charcoal in our project becomes more important at least in the short run.

 

Our original market for charcoal has been locally and to the east in Ontario area but depending on demand the ideas about orchards is a good one.

 

I hope to get a chance to do an update soon.

 

Taildragerdriver.

[cascadiamax]

Taildragerdriver,

 

This biochar project in Denmark may be interesting to you. The method of farming practiced is not the norm in your area nor in mine, but it is rather well suited to a CSA farm business model - perhaps like those around Portland, OR.

 

Nonetheless, there is something about seeing a pyrolysis machine with sterling engine in a greenhouse - is it the promise the wood inputs are so exquisitely used for heat/electricity and the charcoal is used directly on the farm? Nothing is wasted and the use of charcoal in soil is so readily accepted. I wish we could visit the place and build this way here in Oregon.

 

Translated version of http://www.aarstiderne.com/Aarstiderne/Om-aarstiderne/Ide-og-baggrund/Miljoet/Pyrolyse.aspx

 

You might also find Linda Kohanov's book on exploring the potential of horse/human relationships useful. It speaks with the same transformative authority as The Secret.

 

Epona Books: Tao of Equus

 

When you get a chance to respond, how goes your progress on marketing charcoal? How much bio-oil you envision producing from the 1 TPD facility? When would the plant pay back it's initial investment?

[Taildragerdriver]

I have been able to get a lot going but have not had time to post on Hypobraphy. Our website is:

 

BioChar Products

 

I would be glad to have anybody interested in contacting me via the site.

 

Taildragerdriver

[freeztar]

I have been able to get a lot going but have not had time to post on Hypobraphy. Our website is:

 

BioChar Products

 

I would be glad to have anybody interested in contacting me via the site.

 

Taildragerdriver

 

Congrats! It's looking good.

 

I'll contact you via your website.