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Biochar and biofuels

Biochar and biofuels

by Lewis, 20 April, 2013, 1 comments

Broadly speaking, Biochar is charcoal that is not used for heating, barbecues or blacksmithing. It is charcoal that is (often) used for soil improvement and carbon sequestration. Charcoal is created by pyrolysis – that is, the incomplete burning of wood or biomass when oxygen /air is restricted. Typically, full-time charcoal producers have a large, steel kiln* about three metres in diameter and over a metre in height. This is loaded up with wood, mostly hardwoods such as oak, which have a very slow burn. The kiln is then sealed with a large lid. To make charcoal, the burn must be slow and incomplete so that the wood dries out and its structure and capacity for burning remains. This process – converting wood to charcoal – takes some 14-16 hours and produces ready-to-use lumps of charcoal. To watch the process of charcoal making, visit woodlands TV. Read more...

Invasives and aliens - PlantTracker app.

Invasives and aliens – PlantTracker app.

by Chris, 31 January, 2013, 0 comments

Some plants, like the Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed are spreading across the country. Giant Hogweed, also known as wild rhubarb, giant cow parsnip or giant cow parsley is a dangerous plant. It was introduced as an ornamental plant in the C19th; it is however – phototoxic. If the sap gets on the skin then photodermatitis occurs – causing blistering of the skin and scarring, and minute amounts in the eyes can cause blindness. Invasive non-native spacies can displace native species, altering the ecology of various habitats; they might be described as ‘botanical thugs’. One single hogweed plant is capable of producing 80,000 seeds. Once established the removal of these plants can be expensive and time consuming. The earlier an ‘outbreak’ or invasion by one of these plants is reported, the easier it is to deal with. Read more...

The harlequin ladybird

The harlequin ladybird

by Chris, 18 March, 2012, 1 comments

Some six years ago, there was a post about the harlequin ladybird (Harmonium axyridis)– aka Multicoloured Asian Ladybird and the Halloween Ladybird - a ‘newcomer’ to these isles, and which might prove to be a threat to the native species. The harlequin ladybird in an Asian species that has been used for pest control (aphids etc). All ladybirds are beetles. They belong to the order – Coleoptera – and are characterized by having forewings modified as hard wing covers or ELYTRA and biting mouthparts (cf. butterflies and moths). Now some years later, research by scientists at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology have evidence of strong link between the arrival of the harlequin ladybird and the decline in other species of ladybirds. Seven out of the eight native british species have declined – with some now described as being ‘near the threshold of detection’; similar issues have arisen in Belgium and Switzerland where the harlequin ladybird is also present. Read more...

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