Biochar applications for water conservation
Sai Bhaskar Reddy Nakka
Some of the challenges we have presently is giving Water to the plants judiciously. In almost all types of existing irrigation methods, water is wasted in many ways. Just designed these methods of giving water to the plants using biochar and started working on application of this technology. For more details http://biochar.bioenergylists.org/node/1764 or http://biocharwaterconservation.blogspot.in/
No one would throw water on the ground and expect a plant to consume all the water without wastage. This method would assure that all the water is taken by the plant/s without wastage.
Biochar has a very good affinity for water and it also has the storage capacity. No water would be wasted as the water would be given slowly through drip system. The nutrients could also be given to the plant mixed in the water and in diluted form, so that the plant consumes it slowly. These applications are explored through "Rootigation" and "Sapigation" methods, I named these methods for clarity and understanding. In "Rootigation" two methods are explored, perched application of biochar at the root zone along with reduction of percolation through water proofing the base and second method is directly giving water / nutrients to a root/s through drip. Similarly in Sapigation water is given to the sap of the tree. These methods are highly suitable for orchards (for example: mango plantation).
In "Floatigation" method one need not bother to give water to a plant. The greatest advantage is that by weight biochar is of low density as compared to soil. The floats can be lighter. This method is suitable for raising nurseries, there would be floats on water with biochar compost trays, through the capillary action the biochar would absorb required quantity of water and nutrients as per the need. The containers height can be adusted (sunk in the water) as per the requirement. These methods are suitable for poly house / green houses for nurseries, floriculture and other low weight plants. http://biochar.bioenergylists.org/node/1764 or http://biocharwaterconservation.blogspot.in/
Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy
CEO GEO | GOOD STOVES | BIOCHAR INDIA | GEO Resources
Richard
Max Turunen
Growing organic matter floating islands on chinampas on "offall" recycling ponds and channels... the key seeming to be the hot temperature area, and xochimilco -soil bacteria that virulently kills many pathogens and methane making bacterias..... resulting in less disease spreading and less offensively odoured ponds. No point in not using biochar on floating chinampas I guess... but I do not know has anyone tested chinampas bacterias in other areas than mexico... perhaps other areas do have nasty common pathogen forms, immune to it ?
Plant roots seem to be the main "head" or nervous system of the plant, pushing around through it very tips in search of it's goals (nutrients and nice conditions mainly, I assume)... but could it's growth also (for tap roots reaching to deeper ground water) be effected by possible sapigation ? as in, assisted nutrient and water through plant side, at short period of growth stage, and from then on it can extract it's own nutrition from deeper ground waters, needing no assistance of extra nutrients or watering ?
MaxT
Sai Bhaskar Reddy Nakka
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Sai Bhaskar Reddy Nakka
On Sun, Mar 11, 2012 at 8:26 AM, Max Turunen <maxtu...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Slightly offtopic on floatation and sapigation:
>
> Growing organic matter floating islands on chinampas on "offall" recycling ponds and channels... the key seeming to be the hot temperature area, and xochimilco -soil bacteria that virulently kills many pathogens and methane making bacterias..... resulting in less disease spreading and less offensively odoured ponds. No point in not using biochar on floating chinampas I guess... but I do not know has anyone tested chinampas bacterias in other areas than mexico... perhaps other areas do have nasty common pathogen forms, immune to it ?
In parts of India and subcontinent, we would have the advantage of
high temperatures similar to Mexico regarding pathogens and bacterias.
The biochar would also add its value by absorbing the emissions too.
In parts of Bangladesh (Baira cultivation (floating bed agriculture)
Gopalganj, Bangladesh) and Myanmar (Lake Inle floating gardens) etc
existing could be studied for adoption to other areas.
> Plant roots seem to be the main "head" or nervous system of the
plant, pushing around through it very tips in search of it's goals
(nutrients and nice conditions mainly, I assume)... but could it's
growth also (for tap roots reaching to deeper ground water) be
effected by possible sapigation ? as in, assisted nutrient and water
through plant side, at short period of growth stage, and from then on
it can extract it's own nutrition from deeper ground waters, needing
no assistance of extra nutrients or watering ?
Yes. Sapigation should be used only for the need. For example: Mango
trees give fruits in summer. In summer the water availability in the
ground is low. On farmers side as the groundwater levels have fallen,
he is unable to give the required water. This method would help him to
give the meager water judiciously to majority of plants, rather
loosing the crop.
For sapigation the parasitic plants (of respective plants) roots are
useful for grafting. There is more research need to be done.