Soil

Charcoal from bamboo

A well drained soil is really important for growing bamboo. An exception is Phyllostachys purpera, which has rhizome adapted to growing in soggy conditions. Some clumping species will take up more water than they need. Planted on mounds to get established. When the roots reach water they drink heavily. If the climate suits, they can be grown to drain wet areas. So, in most cases, a well drained soil is really important for growing bamboo.

Fertility of the soil has a marked affect on productivity. In most cases drainage and fertility can be improved.

Biochar

The addition of, nutrient charged, biochar to the soil should be seen as soil infrastructure. Expensive up front, but once in place and stabilized, gives long term. Less fertilizer is required. Char is a buffer between the bamboo and adversity caused by sudden changes in growing conditions, its vast surface area a store house of nutrient and microbiological activity.

Captain Biochar rescues the World!

Virginia was simply desperate to save the World from C02.

Captain Biochar flys in.

“Oh, please save us Captain Biochar! C02 is heating up the Planet! Can’t you somehow, sort it out?”

“Yes Virginia, I can sequester that C02 for thousands of years”.

Plants of all kinds are the key. They absorb C02 as they grow.

The C02 transforms into wood, branches and leaves. Biomass. Biomass is pyrolized in an oxygen-deprived kiln. Valuable co-products are drawn off leaving carbon in a highly porous form. Biochar.

Incorporated into the soils’ root-zone, Biochar gives great benefits. Its porous structure provides lodging for air, water and nutrients along with fungi and microbes. Plants appreciate fertility.

Biochar in the soil provides long term carbon sequestration – cooperating with nature – “Shall I start now Viginia?”