Geotherapy Innovative Methods of Soil Fertility Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, and Reversing CO2 Increase

A Practical, Get-Your-Hands-in-the-Soil Manual

Global climate change, increasing pollution, and continued rapid population growth is wreaking havoc on the planet. Stabilizing the environment at safe levels requires a large-scale restoration of damaged ecosystems. Geotherapy: Innovative Methods of Soil Fertility Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, and Reversing CO2 Increase outlines the basic concepts of geotherapy and highlights the importance of healing the biosphere?s ability to store soil carbon to prevent climate change impacts. Facing challenges head on, it addresses how and why policymakers have underestimated the long-term impacts of climate change and how we can correct the flawed carbon management mechanisms today. The book also factors in where carbon can be most effectively stored, how quickly that can be done, and the practical and policy actions needed to get there.

This text presents innovative new technologies for restoring the most productive ecosystems on land while maintaining high biodiversity. It addresses processes and techniques of soil carbon restoration through biogeochemical cycling, biochar, slow-release fertilizers, weathering of minerals (olivine) and rock (basalt) powders, amendments and bio-fertilizers, and the establishment of vetiver and other perennials. Written by highly recognized professionals from every continent except Antarctica, this extensive work consists of 34 chapters covering issues that include: field experiences with biochar including a history of its research; practical uses of biochar in farming systems and the use of biochar for soil fertility enhancement; the potential of remineralization as a global movement; seawater concentrate for abundant agriculture; superior food production using sea salt and plant extracts; recycling waste nutrients using biochar and limestone; and commercially viable carbon farming. The book concludes with a chapter providing general thoughts on regreening the earth and averting a global crisis.

Geotherapy: Innovative Methods of Soil Fertility Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, and Reversing CO2 Increase

Introduction: Geotherapy, the Down-to-Earth Solution to Global Warming. Global Biogeochemical Restoration to Stabilize CO at Safe Levels in Time to Avoid Severe Climate Change Impacts to Earth’s Life Support Systems: Implications for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Potential Annual and Cumulative Carbon Dioxide Removal via Biochar. Potential of Remineralization as a Global Movement. Curing Sick Soils through Chemistry. Rates and Mechanisms of Functional Mineral Reactions in Soils. The Green Cookery Book: Recipes against Climate Change and Ocean Acidification. Olivine: Time for Action! Reestablishing the Evolutionary Grassland–Grazer Relationship to Restore. Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide to Preindustrial Levels. Geology into Biology: Carbon, Minerals, and Microbes—Tools to Remineralize Soil, Sequester Carbon, and Restore the Earth. Biochar: The Field Experience. Survey of Biochar Field Trials. Hydrological, Ecological and Economic Advantages of Aliquot Biochar Dosing for Soil, Climate, and Ecosystem Remediation. Mobilizing Biochar: A Multistakeholder Scheme for Climate-Friendly Foods and Rural Sustainable Development. Role of Biochar in Farming Systems Producing Food and Energy from Biomass. Vetiver System: Reversing Degradation On and Off Farm to Keep Soil Carbon. In Place, Build Up Root Biomass, and Turn Degraded Areas into Biofuel Sources. Basalt Powder Restores Soil Fertility and Greatly Accelerates Tree Growth on Impoverished Tropical Soils in Panama. Basalt Dust and Biochar Interactions at New Harmony Farm, Massachusetts. Soil Remineralization Trial: Preliminary Effects of Montserrat Volcanic Ash on Barbuda Limestone Soils. Building Soil Where There is None: Feasibility of Using Recycled Glass in Growing Media. Soil Remineralization in Scotland. Stonemeal: Principles, Potential, and Perspectives from Brazil. Chemical Composition of Litter Fall and Inputs of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Mineral Elements in a Secondary Forest of South Cameroon. Pyroclastic Rocks as Natural Fertilizer: Case Study of Volcanic Ashes from Tombel Graben (Cameroon Volcanic Line, Central Africa). Effect of Powders of Basalts, Tuff, Granites, and Pyroclastic Materials on the Yield and Quality of Carrots and Cabbages Grown on Tropical Soils in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Rock Fertilizers as an Alternative to Conventional Fertilizers: The Use of Basalt from the Cameroon Volcanic Line for Maize Farming on Ferralitic Soils. Seawater Concentrate for Abundant Agriculture. Superior Food Production Using Sea Salt and Plant Extracts. Biochar-Based Amendment Enhances Tomato Transplant Growth and Early Fruiting. Organic Restoration Minerals Upgrade Soil. SEM-EDX Observation of Diatomaceous Earth at Radioactive Paddy Soils in Fukushima, Japan. Healing the Earth by Healing the Waters: Recycling Waste Nutrients Using Biochar and Limestone. Australian Journey toward Commercially Viable Carbon Farming. Conclusions: Regreening Earth and Growing Our Way out of Global Crisis. Index.

Thomas J. Goreau, Ronal W. Larson, Joanna Campe