tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1575603731696062553.post1854616607395858099..comments2024-03-27T16:08:30.313-05:00Comments on The Great Change: Flash! Tiny Fern Saves Planet from Catastrophic WarmingAlbert Bateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17627996921976501534noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1575603731696062553.post-78091273712172829712014-09-17T21:40:25.050-05:002014-09-17T21:40:25.050-05:00FM - Breeding a cold-tolerant variety would sacrif...FM - Breeding a cold-tolerant variety would sacrifice one of the key restraints that keeps azolla from overrunning rivers and lakes in temperate climates.<br /><br />HJL - 85% of the plant is water content so presumedly drying it would be an optimal storage method for biofuel and/or biochar conversion but it is possible it might also be stored by fermentation much like silage is. It seems likely that as an animal (including human) feed it would have greater use than as biochar but considering planetary rescue value, it may in fact be better to increase soil fertility than food supply for humans. <br />A metric tonne of dried azolla would be expected to yield 0.25 to 0.34 MT biochar after pyrolysis. The remaining weight would be lost to the atmosphere as volatile gases, water vapor and a small amount of ash, and although almost none of that would contain carbon, portions would include NOx, SO2 and other lesser greenhouse gases.<br /><br />The nutritional value in azolla is from essential amino acids, vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin B12 and Beta-Carotene), growth promoter intermediaries and minerals like calcium, phosphorous, potassium, ferrous, copper and magnesium, as well as fiber.<br /><br />On dry weight basis, azolla contains 25 - 35 percent crude protein (7-10% amino acids), 10 - 18 percent minerals, and a small fraction of bio-active substances and bio-polymers. Depending on pyrolysis temperatures and dwell times, it might be possible to retain some of these nutrients in the biochar which could then serve as a livestock nutritional supplement. I imagine if you intended it as animal feed, however, feeding it directly or in dried pellets would be the first choice.<br /><br />In "Locking up Carbon" for the Autumn 2013 Permaculture Magazine, I described how two intentional communities (Earthaven and The Farm) were already 140% and 500% net carbon sequestering, respectively. http://www.permaculture.co.uk/issue/autumn-2013Albert Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17627996921976501534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1575603731696062553.post-54189320291111234782014-09-16T19:06:59.731-05:002014-09-16T19:06:59.731-05:00Interesting article, I'm looking forward to mo...Interesting article, I'm looking forward to more as you folks research this. <br /><br />How much of that metric tonne would be lost to the atmosphere in the process of converting it to biochar? <br /><br />How well does is store after harvest, before breaking down and releasing the carbon? Long enough that the biochar process could be staged over the winter, so the heat can be utilized? <br /><br />I see biochar as one of the keys to making intentional communities carbon negative. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1575603731696062553.post-89035594303589942582014-09-14T21:09:56.443-05:002014-09-14T21:09:56.443-05:00Wow!and double wow!!
Do you really have some azoll...Wow!and double wow!!<br />Do you really have some azolla at the ETC? I want to come see it.<br /><br />I would suggest breeding a crop that is tolerant to cold, but I guess the Earth had a chance of doing that, but didn't.<br /><br />- fmsolarsmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16295077683353414126noreply@blogger.com