Terra petra is a wonder substance for growing plants (at least it worked real well for the pre-contact Amazonians). It is one step removed from charcoal. Rather than slash and burn, the creation of it can be called slash and char. Several companies are looking into it as a method of carbon sequestering. The clear cut growth could be turned into terra petra and mixed with the topsoil used for reclamation.

It would not solve soil depth issues for trees and shrubs, nor would it negate all the negative effects of mountaintop removal. But i doubt very much that the mining companies will cease the practice so perhaps the best course over the short term is to find an environmentally positive way to alleviate some of the negative impact.

So let’s see, mountaintop removal does not really add very many jobs to the local economy, and it burdens the local economy with a ruined environment. Yes, indeed, i see now why it makes so much sense.

In the best case scenario, topsoil is replaced at the rate of about 1/2 inch per year; moreover, soil ecology is something hardly understood…even by the people who who try. It is an amazingly complex web of microorganisms, bacteria, and fungi. All of these are essential to plant growth, because roots can’t actually take nutrients from the soil directly (they can absorb chemical fertilizers somewhat directly because those enter the soil as salts that readily dissolve in water). They need the soil system to digest the elemental nutrients and present them in ionic form. What i’m getting at is that throwing down a layer of topsoil and putting plants in doesn’t really “replace” what is the essential link in the system.

*Wendy, thank you for the compliment, and as i left Dr. Slammy hanging on the bio side when i submitted the one post i’ve had here i will…as soon as time and access permit…introduce myself via the “contact” link.