Biochar Biochar Characterization Characterization Source Material Source Material pH pH Particle Size Particle Size Density Density % carbonization % carbonization Pore size & Pore size & density density Proximate Proximate analysis analysis minerals (ash) minerals (ash) PAHs PAHs Using Biochar in Soil Using Biochar in Soil physical & chemical physical & chemical properties properties Standards Standards product identity & product identity & integrity integrity Industry Industry National National International International click to continue
lettuce, radish, cloverlettuce, radish, cloverTwo (or more) traysTwo (or more) traysPrepare soil + biochar blend(s)Prepare soil + biochar blend(s)One tray: soil onlyOne tray: soil onlyother(s): soil + biochar blend(s)other(s): soil + biochar blend(s)Spread equal number of seeds on all Spread equal number of seeds on all trays; at least 20/traytrays; at least 20/trayGerminate in uniform conditionsGerminate in uniform conditionsCompare germination ratesCompare germination rates
Using Biochar in SoilUsing Biochar in Soil
JOINJOIN IBI Field Trial RegistryIBI Field Trial Registryall data provided will be all data provided will be
open open and accessible to the and accessible to the
publicpublic
4-page 4-page Data FormData Formfor the for the Biochar Trial RegistryBiochar Trial Registry
to record field trial conditions & data to record field trial conditions & data Appendix: IBI Guide to Field TrialsAppendix: IBI Guide to Field Trials
available soon in electronic formavailable soon in electronic form
use IBI Data Form for experimentsuse IBI Data Form for experimentswhether you join Registry or notwhether you join Registry or not
for updates, see IBI website: for updates, see IBI website: www.biochar-international.orgwww.biochar-international.org
Using Biochar in SoilUsing Biochar in Soil
MoistureMoistureInitially, fresh char is hydrophobic = repels waterInitially, fresh char is hydrophobic = repels water
Quench, sprinkle or spray for safety and reduced particle Quench, sprinkle or spray for safety and reduced particle sizesizeSteam – immediately after burn, create live steamSteam – immediately after burn, create live steamFracture (pop open) micropore matrix = activationFracture (pop open) micropore matrix = activationUrineUrine
(poop)(poop)
(pee)(pee)
compost toilet instead of water-borne sewagecompost toilet instead of water-borne sewageclick tocontinue
Preparing BiocharPreparing BiocharUsing Biochar in SoilUsing Biochar in Soil
MineralsMineralsCation & Anion adsorption capacity as delivery mediaCation & Anion adsorption capacity as delivery mediaMineral mix tailored to target soilMineral mix tailored to target soilMajor Minerals: Ca, P – also NMajor Minerals: Ca, P – also Nespecially trace elements as in sea mineralsespecially trace elements as in sea minerals
MicronizedMicronizedMicrobial-scale mixing: more than surface areaMicrobial-scale mixing: more than surface areaMaximum physical intimacyMaximum physical intimacy
Applying BiocharApplying BiocharRatesRates9% carbon, 6 feet deep = 10 – 20 tons/acre9% carbon, 6 feet deep = 10 – 20 tons/acrePractical: 1 to 5 tons/acrePractical: 1 to 5 tons/acreGradual, successive, cumulative applicationsGradual, successive, cumulative applicationsStrong response with small initial applicationsStrong response with small initial applicationsInoculated charInoculated char: few hundred lbs/acre – : few hundred lbs/acre – VaTech tomatoes 2009VaTech tomatoes 2009
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Using Biochar in SoilUsing Biochar in Soil
MethodsMethodsbroadcast, band, planting hole, top-dressbroadcast, band, planting hole, top-dressBlended with other moist materials – especially compostBlended with other moist materials – especially compostIntimate contact with seedling rootlets & root zoneIntimate contact with seedling rootlets & root zone
Mixing & TillageMixing & TillageStrive for uniform coverage – esp. with field trialsStrive for uniform coverage – esp. with field trialsKey is root zone; top 6 inches for vegetablesKey is root zone; top 6 inches for vegetablesSimple surface broadcast is effective; biochar migrates downSimple surface broadcast is effective; biochar migrates down
TimingTimingInoculationInoculation: seeding fully functional microbial complexes: seeding fully functional microbial complexesAllow incubation & culturing time: at least two weeksAllow incubation & culturing time: at least two weeksFull ripening & aging may require longer: up to 6 monthsFull ripening & aging may require longer: up to 6 months
Handling & TransportHandling & TransportBiochar is very light, completely dry, low density, brittle Biochar is very light, completely dry, low density, brittle
Even if not fine-grained, usually contains a fine powder fractionEven if not fine-grained, usually contains a fine powder fraction
biochar blowing off biochar blowing off in transport and tillage in transport and tillage
photos courtesy of Blue Leaf, Inc.photos courtesy of Blue Leaf, Inc.St-François-Xavier-de-Brompton, QuébecSt-François-Xavier-de-Brompton, Québec
www.blue-leaf.cawww.blue-leaf.ca
Using Biochar in SoilUsing Biochar in Soil
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Special care required to transport and spread biocharSpecial care required to transport and spread biochar Risk of accidental ignition with some biocharRisk of accidental ignition with some biocharWill blow away while you measure, transport, apply, and incorporateWill blow away while you measure, transport, apply, and incorporateCommercial products moistened before shipping Commercial products moistened before shipping (increases product weight)(increases product weight)
Dust problems controlled by adding water, mix with clay slurry, Dust problems controlled by adding water, mix with clay slurry, pellets, agglomerate, prill with binderpellets, agglomerate, prill with binder
Incorporate into soil to minimize wind erosion and runoff after rainIncorporate into soil to minimize wind erosion and runoff after rainDevelop local systems to produce, store and transport biocharDevelop local systems to produce, store and transport biochar
Humus into Humic acids (10–15% of original organic carbon)Humus into Humic acids (10–15% of original organic carbon)Super-stable form of carbon: 8 to 10% of soil carbonSuper-stable form of carbon: 8 to 10% of soil carbonIndigestible complex carbon moleculesIndigestible complex carbon moleculesExtremely large carbon molecules: tens to hundreds of carbon atomsExtremely large carbon molecules: tens to hundreds of carbon atomsHeld together by subtle inter-atom electromagnetic forces: Held together by subtle inter-atom electromagnetic forces: hydrogen bonds, vander Walls, hydrophobicityhydrogen bonds, vander Walls, hydrophobicityFulvic (alkali) versus Humic acids (acid)Fulvic (alkali) versus Humic acids (acid)Structural and chemical interactions with charred carbonStructural and chemical interactions with charred carbon
supra-moleculessupra-molecules
GlomalinGlomalin
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mega-structuresmega-structuresIsolated & identified in 1996 by USDA ARS scientist Sara F. WrightIsolated & identified in 1996 by USDA ARS scientist Sara F. WrightGlomalesGlomales species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
excretions of hyphal threads, or tubesexcretions of hyphal threads, or tubesGlycoprotein: sugar + amino acid = 30 – 40% carbonGlycoprotein: sugar + amino acid = 30 – 40% carbonGlue “aggregates” soil particles into larger structuresGlue “aggregates” soil particles into larger structuresSuper-stable form of carbon: up to 27% of soil carbonSuper-stable form of carbon: up to 27% of soil carbonWeighs 2 to 24 times more than humic acidsWeighs 2 to 24 times more than humic acids7 to 42 year recalcitrance7 to 42 year recalcitrance
““Carbon sequestration in soil has significant potential. Carbon sequestration in soil has significant potential.
““Biochar produced in pyrolysis of residues from crops, Biochar produced in pyrolysis of residues from crops, forestry and animal wastes can restore soil fertility forestry and animal wastes can restore soil fertility while storing carbon for centuries to millennia. while storing carbon for centuries to millennia.
““Biochar helps soil retain nutrients and fertilizers, Biochar helps soil retain nutrients and fertilizers, reducing GHG emissions such as Nreducing GHG emissions such as N22O. O.
““Replacing slash-and-burn agriculture with slash-and-char,Replacing slash-and-burn agriculture with slash-and-char,using farm and forestry wastes for biochar productionusing farm and forestry wastes for biochar production
can provide COcan provide CO22 drawdown drawdown of ~8 ppm or more in half a centuryof ~8 ppm or more in half a century.”.”
Carbon SequestrationCarbon SequestrationCarbon Negative Potential of Biochar
Dr. James HansenDr. James Hansenleading NOAA Climate Scientistleading NOAA Climate Scientistwww.GlobalClimateSolutions.orgwww.GlobalClimateSolutions.org
August 2008August 2008
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Using Biochar in SoilUsing Biochar in Soil
THE END
Anybody want to make Anybody want to make biochar this winter?biochar this winter?
will people buy it?will people buy it?
are you readyare you readyfor the nextfor the next
