56: Conservation Burning and Biochar

Conservation burning is a way of dramatically reducing greenhouse gasses and particulate releases from burning woody material like old grapevines. Biochar is a soil amendment that can hold water and nutrients in the soil for slow release to the plants. Raymond Baltar, Director of the Sonoma Biochar Initiative; Director of the California Biochar Association and  Biochar Project Manager at Sonoma Ecology Center explains how to execute a conservation burn and make biochar to reduce smoke and capture carbon. References: "Biochar increases vineyard productivity without affecting grape quality: Results from a four years field experiment in Tuscany" | Scholarly article California Biochar Association Conservation Ag Burning  | UCCE Sonoma flyer "The Conservation Burn Technique" | Vineyard Team Technical Article Sign Up | Irrigation Efficiency Project Sonoma Biochar Initiative Sonoma Ecology Center Randall Graham's thoughts on biochar (Video) Raymond Baltar's LinkedIn page Workshop: Conservation Burning & Biochar Production Workshop Get More Subscribe on Google Play, iHeartRADIO, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, or wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org.