Sunday, December 6, 2009
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Biochar applied as an amendment for for the ornamental plant saplings during nursery stage.
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Straw berries a high value crop, ash + biochar is extensively applied.
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Ash and biochar generated from burning of crop residue / weeds in the field
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Ash and biochar collected from traditional stoves in the farm yard manure
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Three stone biomass stove in use.
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Some families have both biogas and traditional biomass stoves for cooking. The biochar + ash is the main source from the biomass stoves.
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Ash and biochar from water boilers
Satara and Panchgani Biochar use
I had been to Satara and Panchgani in the western part of Maharashtra to see the traditional practice of using biochar. Biochar and ash is the byproduct from traditional stoves. As it is a high rainfall area, the soils are red and use of ash and biochar (charcoal) from traditional stoves is of great value to the farmers. Each farmer uses their own domestic source of ash+biochar for improving the fertility of the soils along with farm yard compost. The straw berries and many other traditional and commercial crops greatly benefit from this practice. This practice is very old in the region.
