Terra Preta Magic Soil of the Lost Amazon
Allan Balliett, February 2007 as presented in TERRAi, The Earth Renewal and Restoration Alliance
Nicely presented and illustrated version of Baillet's review by David Yarrow, webmaster.
Terra Preta
Terra Preta Magic Soil of the Lost Amazon
Submitted by Tom Miles on Sat, 2007-06-02 22:36.Charcoal from Comets, Asteroids and Wildfires
Submitted by Tom Miles on Mon, 2007-05-28 18:39.Charcoal from Comets, Asteroids and Wildfires
Tom Miles, May 28, 2007
There is speculation that pockets of charcoal that resulted in enriched soil came variously from comets and asteroids and resulting wildfires, as well as intentional burning. The latest comet event has been reported as 12,900 years ago in North America. See Science Daily:
Did A Comet Hit Great Lakes Region, Fragment Human Populations, 12,900 Years Ago? May 23, 2007
and National Geographic News:
Comet Wiped Out Early North American Culture, Animals, Study Says May 23,2007
Potential extraterrestrial causes of terra preta formation are discussed in the literature from Cornell University and elsewhere. It has also been debated on the Hypography Science Forumi.
The Terra Preta Phenomenon
Submitted by Tom Miles on Tue, 2007-05-15 03:59.The Terra Preta Phenomenon
Ray O’Grady and Rod Rush, DesertSmart Technologies, WA
‘Managing the Carbon Cycle’ Katanning Workshop 21-22 March 2007 www.amazingcarbon.com
Abstract
Terra Preta Magic Soil of the Lost Amazon
Submitted by Tom Miles on Fri, 2007-04-13 21:04.Terra Preta Magic Soil of the Lost Amazon
Allan Balliett, in Acres USA, February 2007
Agri-char / Bio-char References: On its potential for carbon sequestration, improved soil fertility and sustainable energy
Submitted by Tom Miles on Mon, 2007-03-05 23:12.Agri-char / Bio-char References: On its potential for carbon sequestration, improved soil fertility and sustainable (carbon-negative) energy production
Rick Davies, updated February 21, 2007
Good link site.
BBC: The Secret of El Dorado
Submitted by Tom Miles on Tue, 2007-04-17 21:33.BBC: The Secret of El Dorado
December 19, 2006
In 1542, the Spanish Conquistador, Francisco de Orellana ventured along the Rio Negro, one of the Amazon Basin's great rivers. Hunting a hidden city of gold, his expedition found a network of farms, villages and even huge walled cities. At least that is what he told an eager audience on his return to Spain.
"No one ever saw again what Orellana described"
Dr James Petersen, University of Vermont
Philip Coppens Terra Preta
Submitted by Tom Miles on Tue, 2007-04-17 21:25.Terra Preta
Philip Coppens
In the depths of the Amazonian basin, a specific type of soil is found that is known to be of human origin – but which modern science has so far been unable to reproduce. It seems to have been “primitive man’s” attempt to terraform the Amazon into fertility.
Potential of Pyrolyzed Organic Matter in Soil Amelioration
Submitted by Tom Miles on Sat, 2007-04-14 02:17.Potential of Pyrolyzed Organic Matter in Soil Amelioration
Bruno Glaser, Johannes Lehmann, Christoph Steiner, Thomas Nehls,
Muhammad Yousaf and Wolfgang Zech, 12th ISCO Conference Beijing 2002
Abstract:
Bio-char Black Carbon) Stability and Stabilization in Soil
Submitted by Tom Miles on Mon, 2007-03-05 03:24.Bio-char (Black Carbon) Stability and Stabilization in Soil
Johannes Lehmann, Cornell Univ, Ithaca, NY 14850 and Saran Sohi, Rothamsted Researchi, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
18th World Congress of Soil Science, July 9-15, 2006 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Isolating Unique Bacteria from Terra Preta Systems: Culturing and Molecular Tools for Characterizing Microbial Life
Submitted by Tom Miles on Mon, 2007-01-22 03:48.Isolating Unique Bacteria from Terra Preta Systems: Using Culturing and Molecular Tools for Characterizing Microbial Life in Terra Preta
O'Neill, Brendan Grossman, Julie Tsai, S.M. Gomes, Jose Elias Garcia, Carlos Eduardo Solomon, Dawit Liang, Biqing Lehmann, Johannes Thies, Janice
Poster presentation from the 2006 World Congress of Soil Science in Philadelphia, PA
16-Aug-2006
The greater fertility of Terra Preta (TP) soils is thought to be due to their high black carbon (BC) content, which contributes to increased nutrient and moisture retention, and increased pH.
