erich Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 A group of vinyards testing Biochar; Interview with Hans-Peter Schmidt "We started 2007 with a first test field of 3000m2 where we introduce Bio-Char, Bio-Char + Compost, and each with different seeds in between the wine stocks. This year we are going to extend the test fields and trying the method in France, Spain and Italy.Further on we created a Carbon-Network with several Institutes researching the soil-effects, char stability, water holding capacity and so on. We are going to purchase a first Pyrolyse reactor producing about 1000t/year Bio-Char and Electricity, through that our 40 vineyards all over Europe [will] become climate-neutral by 2013." Admin Perhaps you could give us a glimpse of your background? Hans-Peter Schmidt O.K. I started as an anthropologist at the University of Hamburg, and I became a winegrower in my research on the agricultural attitudes of ancient peoples. Quite a curious biography to become a researcher in ecology! http://reignofterroir.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erich Posted January 19, 2009 Report Share Posted January 19, 2009 Hi List, I'm not complaining mind you, but those precocious Ausse's are ahead of us all ( probably Michael's doing :) ).They have an endowed Biochar chair at the academic level , years of field testing, at least some americans bought BestEnergy, butit seems by now, BestEnergy would be showing off field work in north america. It's great to see CSIRO involved & An Asia-Pacific Biochar Conference too! "A recent meeting at the University of New South Wales, jointly organised by NSW DPI and CSIRO Land and Water, brought together Australian and New Zealand biochar researchers. The Network of Australian and New Zealand Biochar Researchers was formed as a result and it will ensure better dissemination of information about biochar and its benefits. Members of the network will coordinate the first Asia-Pacific Biochar Conference, to take place on the Gold Coast from 17–19 May 2009. The network's researchers are focusing on the use of biochar for carbon sequestration and soil amelioration. While most studies focus on biochar application in agriculture, future work will examine other beneficial uses including its capacity to adsorb organic and inorganic contaminants, and its role in the rehabilitation of degraded soil and waterways. Dr Neil McKenzie, Chief of CSIRO Land and Water, said CSIRO had an outstanding record of research into the dynamics of soil carbon. 'Our work on the age, chemistry and abundance of char in soil has provided the foundation for our new studies into the potential of biochar. This research is essential for developing one of our most promising mitigation strategies against climate change." Amazonians? black magic has multiple benefits(ScienceAlert) Glomalin & Switch Grass;This article high lights Glomalins roll in recalcitrant soil carbon, and suggest that sustainable biofuel cropping can build soils.Measurement of glomalins is an expensive, research lab process. It's my understanding that the only available alternative is root analysis to compare fungi infection rates as a proxy for ultimate glomalin deposition. Switchgrass May Mean Better Soil ScienceDaily (July 25, 2008) — Soils with native grasses such as switchgrass have higher levels of a key soil component called glomalin than soils planted to non-native grasses, according to a study by the Agricultural Research Service at two locations in Mandan, N.D.Switchgrass May Mean Better Soil ARS Work; BIOGEOCHEMICAL PROCESSES INFLUENCING FORMATION AND STABILIZATION OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER AND SOIL STRUCTURE 3.Progress Report Laboratory and field studies are in progress to determine the effects of biochar (charcoal derived from biomass) on soil properties, agricultural productivity, water quality, and carbon sequestering. Biochar was applied on 24 plots at two rates (9814 and 18440 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha)). The impact of these biochar applications on yields of continuous corn will be monitored over the next few years. A 500-day soil column study designed to quantify the impact of biochar on soil quality, carbon sequestration, emissions of greenhouse gasses and nutrient concentrations in leachate from the columns was completed. Analysis of the samples is nearly complete. Preliminary analysis of the data indicates that biochar amendments reduced soil bulk density, sequestered large amounts of carbon, increased soil respiration, reduced leaching of nitrate by 10%, and reduced phosphorous leaching by 40 to 70%. The biochar also acted as a liming agent. ARS Project: Biogeochemical Processes Influencing Formation and Stabilization of Soil Organic Matter and Soil Structure (410769) Annual Report See related USDA ARS Research USDA | BioEnergy Lists: Terra Preta (Biochar) Cheers,Erich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erich Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 This post of Ron's is a very validating work he found! I had seen Nishio mentioned in the archive; Microbial Fertilizers in Japan | BioEnergy Lists: Terra Preta (Biochar) , but I have never seen this alfalfa pot study . Treatment groups are quite like what I have planned,( except with my addition of tillage & application rate split plots.) Plant Response is about fungi infection rates, fungi infection rates lead, now we know, to glomalins and long term soil structure. On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 10:43 AM, Ron Larson <[email protected]> wrote: " 1996 Japanese paper that I don't think has been cited on this list: Microbial Fertilizers in Japan. It contained quite a bit on charcoal (no use of the term "biochar" - so this wouldn't likely show up in most google searchrs), and some interesting results from pot trials. It proved again to me that we need to be in better communication about biochar with the Japanese. Much of the paper is on AMF -arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi" . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erich Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Hi List,Here's another problem begging for a prescription of biochar; Erich Organic Soils Continue to Acidify Despite Reduction in Acidic Deposition Recent Research published in the January�February issue of Soil Science Society of America Journal shows that soil acidification poses a continuing threat to the health of forests in the northeastern United States. Madison, WI, January 12, 2009 � Following the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 and 1990 acidic deposition in North America has declined significantly since its peak in 1973. Consequently, research has shifted from studying the effects of acidic deposition to the recovery of these aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Regional-scale studies have focused primarily on aquatic systems and while many of these ecosystems are showing signs of chemical recovery (increases in acid neutralizing capacity and pH, decreases in sulfate and aluminum concentrations), recovery is slower than expected based on the magnitude of the decline in acid deposition. Researchers have long suspected that acidification of soils in these watersheds has slowed the recovery of aquatic ecosystems. Unfortunately, very few studies have examined change in soil chemistry. As a result our understanding of how soils have responded to decreases in acidic deposition at the regional scale is limited. https://www.soils.org/press/releases/2009/0112/233/ Also:Here's a long review of Glaser & Wood's ADENice SEMs of soils, I had not seen, and a detailed map around Manaus Amazonian Dark Earths: Explorations ... - Google Book Search Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted February 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 UNSW leading on biochar researchJanuary 29, 2009 International Biochar Initiative) Biochar is a fine-grained, highly porous charcoal that helps soils retain nutrients and water. (Image credit: International Biochar Initiative) Corn grown with and without biochar. (image credit: Nikolaus Foidl/AnthoTerra) The University of NSW is accelerating research into biochar, an organic product derived from biological waste that harnesses carbon emissions, boosts crop yields and improves sustainable land use for horticulture and forestry. The potential for biochar to contribute to a low-carbon energy future is the subject of news reports, following Federal Opposition support for the technology. Pyrolysis technology converts agricultural bio-waste such as green waste, chicken manure, rice husks, corn cobs and peanut shells into biochar by thermal decomposition in an oxygen-starved environment at low temperatures. Pyrolysis produces syn-gas that can be used as fuel and the leftover biochar that can be buried in the soil to "lock up" carbon for decades or centuries, while boosting soil productivity. The university's School of Materials Science and Engineering has an active group in biochar research. Professor Mark Hoffman, Head of School, strongly supports biochar research due to its significant potential national benefits, reflected by the amount of non-governmental research funding it is attracting. UNSW has a three-year ARC Linkage Grant with Biomass Energy Services Technology Pty Ltd to advance scientific understanding of biochar. Also, UNSW Visiting Professor Stephen Joseph has attracted venture capital funding for UNSW biochar research and he is currently in the US seeking more investment support. "There is no question that biochar can boost agricultural output by speeding the growth rate of plants," says Professor Paul Munroe, who is co-chief investigator of the ARC Linkage research. "Our research focus is to characterise different biomass feed stocks and determine their potential to improve soils and boost the growth of different crops and plants." Biochar isn't recognised in Australia's new emissions trading scheme as it is not part of the Kyoto protocol. However, Professor Joseph and Professor Munroe have written to Federal Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull and Federal Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong, seeking meetings to explain the environmental and economic merits of biochar. In their letter, the UNSW researchers note that the bulk of their research funding derives from US-based venture capital groups. One consequence of this is that any intellectual capital they develop will be exported and lost to Australia. Moreover, Australian researchers are competing with colleagues at overseas institutions who are able to tap government funding at levels which dwarf that which is currently available to us in Australia. Biochar research is under way in Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands. The United States has recently committed US$40m a year to char research and universities in Edinburgh, California and New Zealand are also investing in the area.UNSW leading on biochar research - News - UNSW - Science So they should with both Prof. Stephen Joseph and Adraina Downie working, researching studying there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted February 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Press release.Soils ain’t soils: NSW DPI on the front foot with carbon sequestration potential in soils.13 Feb 2009 With the potential for carbon sequestration in Australian soils such a hot topic at the moment, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has dedicated two up-to-date and informative web pages to the issue. The first web page (www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/areas/resources-research/soils-recycled-organics/scientific-outputs/2008/soil_organic) highlights a 28-page Scoping Paper: Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) Sequestration Potential for Agriculture in NSW, authored in 2008 by NSW DPI scientists Yin Chan, Annette Cowie, Georgina Kelly, Bhupinderpal Singh and Peter Slavich. The second web page (www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/topics/biochar) provides a comprehensive background to biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from the slow pyrolysis of biomass, which has great capacity to sequester carbon in the soil. This page also outlines the research being conducted by NSW DPI into the potential for this material. The web pages highlight the important work being done by NSW DPI to assess and explore the potential for holding carbon in the soil long term, and the benefit this would have in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The scoping paper says the highest SOC sequestration potential in NSW exists in pasture land in the higher rainfall regions (>450 mm), both as permanent pastures or as ley pasture in the cropping zone. "Considerable increases can be achieved by pasture improvement and improved management practices," the paper says. "Significant SOC potential also exists in the low rainfall rangelands which comprises nearly 50 per cent of NSW. "Promotion of conservation tillage practices (particularly no-tillage) is important to halt further carbon losses from cropping soils (emission avoidance). "In addition, SOC can be sequestered by adopting new land conversion and soil amelioration options such as bioenergy crops from perennial vegetation, recycling organics including biochars, and by ameliorating sodic and acid soils. "As a rough estimate, total SOC sequestration potential from pasture land, cropping land and rangelands amounts to 4.9 Mt C/yr (18 Mt CO2e/yr), which is equivalent to 11 per cent of the total GHG emission from NSW in 2005. "Many of the management practices that are effective in increasing SOC in agricultural soils also improve productivity and profitability, conserve the resource base and protect the environment." The Paper says it is important that soil carbon management is in agricultural systems is included in the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), to provide an incentive for land managers to increase soil carbon, both for the mitigation benefits and the resulting improvements to soil health. "Inclusion of agricultural soil carbon management in the Australian Emissions Trading Scheme (AETS), whether as an offset or within a covered sector, will require development of cost-effective methods for estimating soil carbon change under changed land management practices." The biochar web page says biochar may be an immediate solution to reducing the global impact of farming (and in reducing the impact from all agricultural waste). Biochar can store carbon in the ground, potentially making a significant reduction in atmospheric Greenhouse gas (GHG) levels; at the same time its presence in the earth can improve water quality, increase soil fertility, raise agricultural productivity and reduce pressure on old growth forests. As well as characterising the qualities and benefits of biochar, the web page outlines a number of NSW DPI projects on biochar, including: * Land management to increase soil carbon sequestration in NSW - Annette Cowie * Assessment of Biochar for agronomic benefits, improved fertiliser use efficiency, greenhouse gas abatement, and reduced off-site migration of chemicals - Lukas Van Zwieten * Soil carbon sequestration and rehabilitation: Landholders develop, implement and assess biochar - Dr Lukas Van Zwieten * Benefits of papermill biochar (Agrichar TM ) - Dr Lukas Van Zwieten * Assessment of Biochar in Sugarcane cropping systems - Dr Lukas Van Zwieten * Characterisation of Biochar by analytical Py-GC-MS - Dr Lukas Van Zwieten * Reduction in N2O emmissions from soils ammended with Biochar - Dr Lukas Van Zwieten * Nitrogen dynamics of biochar in soils - Yin Chan and Simon Eldridge Media contact: Phil Bevan, 02 6626 1350 http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/news/recent-news/agriculture-news-releases/soils-aint-soils Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted February 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2009 Press release.Soils ain’t soils: NSW DPI on the front foot with carbon sequestration potential in soils.13 Feb 2009 With the potential for carbon sequestration in Australian soils such a hot topic at the moment, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has dedicated two up-to-date and informative web pages to the issue. The first web page (Scoping Paper: Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Potential for Agriculture in NSW. | NSW Department of Primary Industries) highlights a 28-page Scoping Paper: Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) Sequestration Potential for Agriculture in NSW, authored in 2008 by NSW DPI scientists Yin Chan, Annette Cowie, Georgina Kelly, Bhupinderpal Singh and Peter Slavich. The second web page (Biochar | NSW Department of Primary Industries) provides a comprehensive background to biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from the slow pyrolysis of biomass, which has great capacity to sequester carbon in the soil. This page also outlines the research being conducted by NSW DPI into the potential for this material. The web pages highlight the important work being done by NSW DPI to assess and explore the potential for holding carbon in the soil long term, and the benefit this would have in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The scoping paper says the highest SOC sequestration potential in NSW exists in pasture land in the higher rainfall regions (>450 mm), both as permanent pastures or as ley pasture in the cropping zone. "Considerable increases can be achieved by pasture improvement and improved management practices," the paper says. "Significant SOC potential also exists in the low rainfall rangelands which comprises nearly 50 per cent of NSW. "Promotion of conservation tillage practices (particularly no-tillage) is important to halt further carbon losses from cropping soils (emission avoidance). "In addition, SOC can be sequestered by adopting new land conversion and soil amelioration options such as bioenergy crops from perennial vegetation, recycling organics including biochars, and by ameliorating sodic and acid soils. "As a rough estimate, total SOC sequestration potential from pasture land, cropping land and rangelands amounts to 4.9 Mt C/yr (18 Mt CO2e/yr), which is equivalent to 11 per cent of the total GHG emission from NSW in 2005. "Many of the management practices that are effective in increasing SOC in agricultural soils also improve productivity and profitability, conserve the resource base and protect the environment." The Paper says it is important that soil carbon management is in agricultural systems is included in the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), to provide an incentive for land managers to increase soil carbon, both for the mitigation benefits and the resulting improvements to soil health. "Inclusion of agricultural soil carbon management in the Australian Emissions Trading Scheme (AETS), whether as an offset or within a covered sector, will require development of cost-effective methods for estimating soil carbon change under changed land management practices." The biochar web page says biochar may be an immediate solution to reducing the global impact of farming (and in reducing the impact from all agricultural waste). Biochar can store carbon in the ground, potentially making a significant reduction in atmospheric Greenhouse gas (GHG) levels; at the same time its presence in the earth can improve water quality, increase soil fertility, raise agricultural productivity and reduce pressure on old growth forests. As well as characterising the qualities and benefits of biochar, the web page outlines a number of NSW DPI projects on biochar, including: * Land management to increase soil carbon sequestration in NSW - Annette Cowie * Assessment of Biochar for agronomic benefits, improved fertiliser use efficiency, greenhouse gas abatement, and reduced off-site migration of chemicals - Lukas Van Zwieten * Soil carbon sequestration and rehabilitation: Landholders develop, implement and assess biochar - Dr Lukas Van Zwieten * Benefits of papermill biochar (Agrichar TM ) - Dr Lukas Van Zwieten * Assessment of Biochar in Sugarcane cropping systems - Dr Lukas Van Zwieten * Characterisation of Biochar by analytical Py-GC-MS - Dr Lukas Van Zwieten * Reduction in N2O emmissions from soils ammended with Biochar - Dr Lukas Van Zwieten * Nitrogen dynamics of biochar in soils - Yin Chan and Simon Eldridge Media contact: Phil Bevan, 02 6626 1350 Soils ain’t soils: NSW DPI on the front foot with carbon sequestration potential in soils. | NSW Department of Primary Industries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michaelangelica Posted March 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 A long list of research papers compiled byBiochar Research PDF Print E-mail Information about the Biochar Fund's research will be available soon. In the meantime, please consult the following selection of resources to learn more about the science behind biochar. Research papers Biochar Fund - fighting hunger, deforestation, energy insecurity and climate change - Biochar Research Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erich Posted May 3, 2009 Report Share Posted May 3, 2009 The most recent Biochar study I've found, in temperate soils; Biochar as a soil amendment positively interacts with nitrogen fertiliser to improve barley yields inthe UKAlfred Gathorne-Hardy, J Knight, J WoodsImperial College, Centre for Energy Policy and Technology (ICEPT), London, UKIntroduction: Soil organic carbon (SOC) is vital for sustainable yields, retaining water and nutrients,providing a habitat for soil biota and improving soil structure (Lorenz 2007). SOC is also a major carbonstore, containing over twice the total carbon present in the atmosphere. Land Use Change and arablefarming practises have already led to a marked reduction in SOC, and with the increased temperaturesexpected with climate change SOC is likely to fall further (Raich, Potter et al. 2002). Its loss reduces soilfertility and further exacerbates climate change.Biochar, the use of charcoal as a soil amendment, has been proposed to increase both SOC levels and soilfertility.P37. 45 Biochar as a soil amendment positively interacts with nitrogen fertiliser to improve barley … http://download.iop.org/ees/ees9_6_372052.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erich Posted May 3, 2009 Report Share Posted May 3, 2009 Michael's link doesn't seem to work, so her are some others; The biochar Fund is also doing amazing work in the developing world, A $3 Biochar Cooking Pot;Biochar pot - terra preta stove - Home Also , I would like Rebut the BioFuelWatch folk's recent criticisms with the petition of 1500 Cameroon Farmers;The Biochar FundBiochar Fund - fighting hunger, deforestation, energy insecurity and climate change - Homeand to explain their program;Biochar Fund - fighting hunger, deforestation, energy insecurity and climate change - Biochar versus top-down schemes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeztar Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 I have a friend that is wanting to produce charcoal cubes to use as nutrient containers for hydroponics (kind of like that foam stuff they stick flowers in)It should work fine as long as the cubes are formed and contained, but my presumption is based on thought rather than experiment at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erich Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 At the Asia Conference there is a hydroponic presentation;Biochar as a hydroponic growing medium, Mike Nichols, MasseyUniversity, New Zealand Asia Pacific Biochar Conference 17 - 20 May, 2009 http://www.anzbiochar.org/AP%20Biochar%20Conference%202009%20Program.pdf See: Australia and New Zealand Biochar Researchers Network Australia and New Zealand Biochar Researchers Network - Home Page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erich Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 Amazonian dark earths: origin properties managementAmazonian Dark Earths are not only a testament to the vanished civilizations of the Amazon Basin, but may provide the answer to how the large, sophisticated... Amazonian dark earths: origin ... - Google Book Search Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erich Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 FYI, Here are the two most recent studies out; Imperial College test, this work in temperate soils gives data from which one can calculate savings on fertilizer use, which is expected to be ongoing with no additional soil amending. http://www.iop.org/EJ/article/1755-1315/6/37/372052/ees9_6_372052.pdf?request-id=22fb1902-1c23-4db8-8801-2be7e2f3ce1b The BlueLeaf Inc. and Dynamotive study are exciting results given how far north the site is,and the low application rates. I suspect, as we saw with the Imperial College test, the yield benefits seem to decrease the cooler the climate.The BlueLeaf / Dynamotive study show infiltration rates for moisture are almost double.The lower leaf temperatures puzzles me however, I thought around 21C was optimum for photosynthesis. BlueLeaf Inc. and Dynamotive Announce Biochar Test ResultsCQuest Biochar Enriched Plots Yield Crop Increase Ranging From Six to Seventeen Percent vs. Control Plots NewsArticle The full study at Dynomotives site; http://www.dynamotive.com/wp-content/themes/dynamotive/pdf/BlueLeaf_Biochar_Field_Trial_2008.pdf And: Also, even though it's a competing technology for biomass that won't get returned to the soil, this biologic conversion may have efficiency benifit to optimize for liquid fuels; ACS Announces Advances Toward Producing Cellulosic Biofuels - Renewable Energy World BTW, I will be speaking about my lobbying & advocacy & field work at the 2009 North American Biochar Conference, the first major biochar conference held in the United States. North American Biochar Conference 2009 - 1 - powered by Cheers Erich Michaelangelica 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erich Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Cameroon trial data show strong improvement in maize yield - summary report Kumba, Cameroon, September 10, 2009 - Since December 2008, more than 1500 subsistence farmers in Cameroon's South-West Region (SWR) have been participating in the largest-ever field trial testing the effects of biochar on crop productivity. The first results of this ongoing experiment, based on maize planted in a large series of plots, are now available. The data can be described as 'remarkable', in that they demonstrate how biochar consistently helps to boost crop productivity in tropical soils, sometimes in a spectacular manner. The preliminary results suggest that biochar may offer a solution to hunger and food insecurity amongst the world's poorest, as well as to soil depletion and tropical deforestation. Go straight to our DATA PAGE or our PICTURE PAGE . Results Out of 75 test plots, 41 yielded complete data on biomass development, whereas 37 offer complete data on grain yields. 31 data-sets are complete for both biomass and grain yield data. Incomplete data series can be explained by a range of factors: theft of healthy maize cobs is the most common problem, with some groups whose plots were located deep in the forest reporting that all their maize was stolen (because it looked so good, in their own words). Other losses were due to observable bird and pest attacks, and misunderstandings on how to conserve and prepare the maize and the biomass correctly for measurements. Some groups sold or consumed the maize before we could collect data. Despite these losses, we think the series of data presented here are sufficiently large to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of biochar as an agricultural soil amendment in the tropics, and in particular on maize in relatively infertile soils. Biomass yield The relative biomass yield (roots, stems, cobs, maize grain) for all test plots shows that all combinations of soil inputs perform better than the control (general data, figure 1 Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility). The addition of 10 tons of char per hectare (C10) will increase biomass yields by around 40%, which is as much as the addition of either organic or mineral fertilizers (O = 33%, F = 46%). This shows that for the individual farmer, char may function as efficiently fertilizers, even though biochar is not a fertilizer in itself. The addition of char at a higher rate, equivalent to 20 tonnes per hectare, results in an even bigger increase (C20, an increase of 52%). The combination of organic and mineral fertilizers (OF) greatly increases biomass yield as compared to the control, almost doubling it (a 90% increase). However, when char is added, at either the equivalent of 10 or 20 tons, the effect will be even more outspoken (C10OF = 119%, C20OF = 113%). This demonstrates that char boosts the efficiency with which a soil makes nutrients available to the maize plant. Interestingly, the combination of C10 with mineral fertilizer (C10F = 84% increase in biomass yield) and the combination of C20 with organic (C20O =74%) or mineral fertilizer (C20F = 94%) alone, results in as high an increase in biomass yields as OF. In practise this means that a farmer has to use only one of either mineral or organic fertilizers and combine it with char (C10F, C20O or C20F), in order to obtain the same effect as the combination of both these expensive soil inputs without char (OF). When we look at individual test plots (general data, figure 9 Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility), we observe that in a small minority of cases (3 out of 41) the addition of any type of soil input will have a negative effect on biomass yields (Takie Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Unity & Progress Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, and Njinjong Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility). This may be due to the natural fertility of the soil, with additions of inputs distorting this balance. However, with soil analyses currently in progress, it is too early to discuss these exceptions. In about five cases the addition of char yields a slightly negative (< 5% decrease) ( (Main dans la Main Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Firm Hand Farmers Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility) to a negligible effect (<3% increase or decrease) (Ntukia Women Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Rainbow Farmers Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Juliette Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility) on biomass productivity. On the other end of the scale: in 12 cases the addition of char alone resulted in an increase in biomass productivity larger than 50%. Seven plots showed more than a doubling in biomass yields. In three cases, already identified as plots with poor oxisols (Oben Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Man Must Try Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Mekora Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility), the addition of char at a rate of 20 tons per hectare even yielded a 'spectacular' boost in biomass productivity, with an increase bigger than 250%. Grain yield The main goal of both the Biochar Fund and Key Farmers Cameroon is the maximization of food production and the reduction of hunger. However, in a scenario in which carbon storage in soils based on the production of biochar obtained from farm residues is rewarded with a form of carbon compensation (carbon credits or other), it is interesting to assess the value of biomass productivity as it relates to grain yield. We will do this, below, by looking at the residue-to-product ratio. But let us first focus on food - the maize. Data on the relative grain yield for all plots show that, again, the introduction of any type of input yields more grain than plants on the control. Organic (O) and mineral (F) fertilizers increase grain yield by about 60%. The combination of both (OF) roughly doubles output (+94%). When char alone is added to the soil, at either the equivalent of 10 or 20 tonnes per hectare, grain yields are almost doubled (C10 = +85%; C20 = +89%). This means that char alone performs as well as the combination of organic and mineral fertilizers (OF). Biochar being considerably less expensive than these traditional inputs and yielding potential carbon compensations, the individual farmer may easily choose for the introduction of char to manage his soils and crop productivity. When char is combined with organic or mineral fertilizers, grain yields get a boost of between 116% (C20F) to 168% (C20OF). This demonstrates again that biochar helps improve the efficiency of nutrient storage and exchanges in the soil. Interestingly, the difference between the combination of char at a low input rate (C10) with other inputs (C10O, C10F) and char at a higher input rate (C20O, C20F) is small. At the C20 rate, mineral fertilizers even seem to perform less strongly on grain yield (C20F = +116%) than when combined with C10 (C10F = +144%). When all inputs are combined, maize grain yields increase by 145% (C10OF) to 168% (C20F). Increasing grain yield by two and a half times is obviously a very attractive prospect for subsistence farmers. Economics however will determine whether these combinations are cost-effective for them. Looking at individual test plots (general data, figure 10 Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility), we can observe great differences in the maize grain yield. In five cases (Yamba Women Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Humble Ladies Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Etoko Women Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Nature is Life Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Agbor Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility), the addition of C10 brought about a lower grain yield than the control. In only four cases (Humble Ladies Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Etoko Women Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Unity and Progress Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, and Nature is Life Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility) did the introduction of C20 affect grain yield negatively. In two cases (Rainbow Farmers Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility, Ayuk Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility), the addition of biochar (either C10 or C20) had no effect whatsoever. In all the other test fields, char helped improve grain yields. In fifteen cases, the utilization of biochar alone, at a rate of ten tons per hectare (C10), showed an increase of more than 50%. In eight of these, grain yields were more than doubled because of C10. Extreme results on the C10 sub-plots: +211% (Mekora Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility), +240% (Tecla Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility), +300% (Bih Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility), +360% (Bate - to be uploaded) and +400% (Kofapru Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility). With char added at 20MT/ha, we see a (more than) doubling in grain yield in eight cases. Extreme results were obtained at the plots of Antaze Dynamic Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility (+249%), Kofapru Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility (+300%), Mekora Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility (+288%), Bate (+360% - to be uploaded), and Oben Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility (+675%). Figure 6 Biochar food security maize yield terra preta carbon dioxide climate change soil fertility in the general data page shows the absolute grain yield for all plots in the experiment. Currently, the subsistence farmers who participate in the trial produce less than 1,7 tons of maize per hectare on average. This can be considered to be a low yield. When post-harvest losses are considered, the final yield may be below 1,5 tons (compare this with maize yields in the EU or the US, which are between 7 and 9 MT/ha). With the addition of soil inputs, the picture changes. The farmer will be able to produce one ton more food per hectare, by adding either a combination of non-char inputs (OF) or biochar alone. Grain output can be doubled when organic and mineral fertilizers are combined with char. In conclusion: biochar may help farmers boost the grain yield of maize, particularly when combined with other inputs. In some notoriously poor soils, charcoal will greatly help retain nutrients and keep them available for the crop. In the tropical soils and under the specific agro-ecological conditions encountered in this experiment, biochar functions as effectively in the soil as more traditional inputs such as organic and mineral fertilizers. This means a farmer can grow more food, without introducing chemical fertilizers. A future of improved food security based on organic soil management thus becomes possible. Biochar Fund - fighting hunger, deforestation, energy insecurity and climate change - Biochar works: Cameroon trial data show strong improvement in maize yield Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erich Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Dear List, This could be very big, and certainly give the authors of the Royal Society Report serious pause for reflection and Retraction of their dismissive view on Biochar sequestration. Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesReducing abrupt climate change risk usingthe Montreal Protocol and other regulatoryactions to complement cuts in CO2 emissionsReducing abrupt climate change risk using the Montreal Protocol and other regulatory actions to complement cuts in CO2 emissions — PNAS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erich Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 ISU Biochar Research with Turf iaTURF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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