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Soil Needs Terra gas.
So Do You.
CO2 is drawn from the air by nature’s factories - plants
Measuring CO2 is a KPI (Key Performance Indicator) for ultimately organic carbon which is affixed by the plants.
Terra gasTM is a point-of-use battery powered device that measures the soil CO2 in 4 minutes and stores the data on free mobile apps
Gasses are primarily studied with respect to the discharge from decomposition but CO2 affixing has minimal research
Our research has shown that large grasses such as corn affix the greatest amount of CO2 and we have shown that there is approximately a 20% increase in yield on the second year of corn which we attribute to greater utilization of N2 through increase in CO2
It is possible to map a 10 acre field with one drill battery charge
Apply Today to Participate In the Next Stage Developing the Practice Of Increasing Crop Yields by Managing Soil Gases.
This is a Privately Funded Study by the developers of the Terra gas device. Participants will be selected based on these profiles:
The discussion of soil health as correlated to gas concentrations is well-documented as evident in these references.
I am particularly fond of Gabe Brown’s book “Dirt to Soil”, and also:
Carbon Farming: Sequestering Carbon in Plants and Soil - ethical.net
CO2: Friend or Foe to Agriculture? - FactCheck.org
Carbon Credits and Potential Payments are available from companies such as Indigo AG. Terra gas is used
to define changes in farming techniques Point-Of-Use to gage how Soil Carbon may be changing.
To be considered for one of the (12) farms in the study please reach out to Richard Meyer
over email: richard@sensingandcontrols.com or by calling 860.707.2390
Overview
Beginning
In Spring of 2019 I became aware of a funded revenue path for farmers to improve the amount of CO2 sequestered in soil by management techniques. Among the advantages of CO2 sequestering, by nature's amazing little factories (plants), is to lower the amount of such as a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. There is also research which supports that CO2 sequestration increases the amount of microbial activity, ultimately builds organic carbon, and may increase the effectiveness of Nitrogen and other soil elements.
Overall Strategy
It needs to be a rugged device with the entire kit automated and operable by young people, also known as farm kids. I have gathered much information to determine the effects of soil and atmospheric conditions on gaseous readings. I have found no correlation, within the limits of soggy and frozen soil, to the quality and consistency of readings.
Device Indications
The probe consists of a “pipe within a pipe” which is a common gas design data concept in medical and industrial devices. There are two patents pending on the seal systems of the unit and the programming is covered under copyrights. Data is gathered using the HM-10 app for iOS, the HC-05/06 app for Android, and any of several GPS apps.
Operation
The unit and the recommended hammer drill are Ryobi and operate on the same 19volt 6.0Ah battery system. Three batteries are sufficient to operate the drill and unit for about 20 holes. There are three auger options: 3” for routine use using rubber seal; 2” for tough soil such as pasture using rubber seal; and 1-3/4” for discreet depths relying on the metal couplings as a seal system. The data is not saved should the power be cut to the unit unless the log has been emailed from the phone app. The app’s right-hand corner offers the option to “send log file”.
The readout provides instruction for two maintenance functions every 10 holes when it also prompts email of the data: remove point and tap out dirt; cut power, open case, and dust out the inside with compressed air designed for electrical equipment such as a computer.
References
1. Data from Meyer Farm, Oak Ridge, MO:
Pasture and bird habitat:CO2 ~ 900-1100ppm
Active Soybean fields:CO2 ~ 1000-1300ppm
Recently harvested corn fields:CO2 ~ 600ppm
2. Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture, by Gabe Brown © 2018, published by Chelsea Green Publishing – VT.
