RAAB, traditional Biochar application technique

[Dr. Reddy]

Dear All,

RAAB is an old Terra Preta System as practiced in parts of India,
which is no
more seen. Mr. Bernard Declercq, Auroville had seen this system about
30 years
back, in parts peninsular India, explains it as "Raab is a system of
charring biomass used by some tribal
communities in India. It consists of making beds of various layers of
dry,
half-dry and fresh woody and leafy biomass, dung and clay. The thus
layered bed
is fully sealed with clay and cold fired (burning in reduced
conditions). In the
resultant residues rice nurseries are started. The tribals affirm that
this
gives perfect growth to the rice plants. Charcoal bits, ash, even wood
vinegar
as well as sulfur that may have been absorbed by the clay, would
explain the
growth enhancing factors of the raab system".
He is practicing Terra Preta and also charcoal production at
Auroville. Please see this link.
http://www.annadana.com/actu/new_news.cgi?id_news=159

Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy