Biochar
What is Biochar?
Biochar is a type of charcoal like carbon rich substance.
What was caused from separating livestock and crops?
Splitting up plants and livestock led to a very extreme crop monoculture system with limited productivity.
This term describes the end product of composting — a dark, crumbly soil-like material rich in nutrients.
Humus
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle moves water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, continuously circulating it between the Earth’s surface and atmosphere.
What is vermiculture?
Vermiculture is the use of worms to aid in the decomposition of organic material.
What is biochar made of/ how is it made?
It is created from the burning of organic materials in a process call pyrolysis.
What are some benefits of animal integration?
Some benefits include; increasing the balance of nutrients across the entire farm through the even distribution of manure. As well as other grazing benefits.
These microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, are responsible for breaking down organic matter in compost.
Decomposers
Where does rainmaking bacteria come from?
They are found on plants.
The dark, crumbly material produced by worms after digesting organic waste is known as...
castings
How can biochar help reverse climate change?
Biochar can help reverse climate change by "locking up" carbon for long periods of time that otherwise would have cycled naturally back into the atmosphere.
What are the best methods for managing animal integration?
1) Animal and crops occupying the same field, but at different times of the year.
2) Alternating annual and perennial forage in the field from year to year.
3. Intercropping of annual and perennial crops in the same field for grazing and crop production.
What is the impact from city compost being buried in landfills?
It becomes a potent greenhouse gas, methane.
How do microbes from the plants contribute the water cycle?
They get picked up by the wind and into the atmosphere.
What is the benefit of earth worms?
They remove toxins, harmful bacteria, and heavy metals from the soil.
What benefit can be gained from feeding biochar to cattle?
Feeding Biochar to cattle can absorb toxins and combat illness which then runs through their systems and gets evenly distributed through the land. Dung beetles then bury their manure and biochar underground.
What is the concern over greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock?
That cattle produce methane emissions from digestion. Which would supposedly make the benefit of animal integration not worth it.
What organic materials make up compost?
Materials for tree shed and animal waste.
What are damages to the large water cycle caused by?
Climate altering effects caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
What is the benefit from castings?
They improve soil structure, boost nutrient content, and enrich the soil with beneficial microorganisms that support plant health and suppress diseases.
What are some industrial uses of biochar?
Some industrial uses for biochar include highways and paved roads, internal building material, roofing tiles, insulation and humidity control, plaster, batteries, recyclable plastics, sports clothing, paper, packaging, tires, air fresheners, water filters, electromagnetic radiation absorption, 3D printer ink, cosmetics, paints, medicine, etc.
What are some other obstacles with animal integration?
1) A cultural attitude against the integration of livestock.
2) Farmers not having the experience or training needed to integrate crop and livestock proficiently.
What is the benefit of compost?
Compost significantly increased plant growth, improved the water-holding capacity of the soil, and boosted the sequestration of atmospheric carbon underground.
What are damages to the small water cycle caused by?
These damages are caused by deforestation, overgrazing, and industrial farming practices.
What are the benefits from worms burrowing?
It loosens up the soil allowing pathways for water and oxygen. This also prevents fields from flooding.