Geotherapy

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

• 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.

"… a timely book that describes methods for soil fertility restoration and carbon sequestration in a manner accessible to general readers. … Authors from diverse backgrounds have contributed chapters, including academics, activists, and industry representatives from around the globe. Summing Up: Optional. Lower-division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners."—CHOICE, November 2015From the ForewordThis book, Geotherapy, with its multiplicity of perspectives focuses on three fundamental issues; healing the planet, stabilizing climate and feeding the human community. All are linked and interwoven in a story that begins with the soil and its stewardship and extends outward to encompass the whole planet…. The chapters that follow represent the unfolding of a new paradigm that is deeply rooted in the teachings of nature.… If the ideas laid out in Geotherapy were implemented, the capacity of the land to support economic activity would also diversify and expand…. It could also engage a large percentage of the people around the world. Our future as a civilization may depend on returning to our roots and the mineral as well as the organic materials that sustain them….Geotherapy is an encyclopedia of ideas and tools for transforming the planet. The book is written by genuine earth stewards, most of who have field experience and a broad theoretical knowledge of the larger workings of the planet. Their experience spans many different climates, soils and cultures. This practical, get your hands-in-the soil manual is a good place to start to transform the world.—John Todd, Todd Ecological Design, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USAFrom the PrefaceThat "carbon sequestration in soil being a win-win option" is the common thread that links all 34 chapters of the Geotherapy into a coherent and informative book.… Geotherapy supports the truism that "If soils are not restored, crops will fail even if rains do not; hunger will perpetuate even with emphasis on biotechnology and genetically modified crops; civil strife and political instability will plague the developing world even with sermons on human rights and democratic ideals; and humanity will suffer even with great scientific strides. Political stability and global peace are threatened because of soil degradation, food insecurity, and desperateness. The time to act is now" (Lal, Science, 2008).—Rattan Lal, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA