One hundred and fifty years later
eurochareurochar
Franco MigliettaIrene CriscuoliFilippo FavilliCostanza CalzolariGiorgio AlbertiCristina MartinezSilvia Baronti
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
posium –
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January
17/18 - 2013
eurochareurochar1° Medite
rranean Biochar S
ymposiu
m –Ita
ly, Ja
nuary17/18 - 2013
Long‐term effects of biochar application
Long‐term effects on:
‐ Carbon sequestration‐ Soil fertility
Why?
eurochareurochar
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
posium –
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January
17/18 - 2013
Where?
‐ Archaeological settings (Terra Preta, Terramare…)
‐ Charcoal hearths (charcoal platforms, charcoal pits…)
Long‐term effects of biochar application
eurochareurochar
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
posium –
Italy,
January
17/18 - 2013
The hearths of the Val di Pejo, Trentino, Italy
1° Mediterra
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Historical documentation
1° Mediterra
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1° Mediterra
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17/18 - 2013
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
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17/18 - 2013
S
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
posium –
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January
17/18 - 2013
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
posium –
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January
17/18 - 2013
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
posium –
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January
17/18 - 2013
Mean surface area= 94m2
C‐content= 23.3% ± 6.3
N‐content= 0.5% ± 0.2
Layer= 19.3cm ± 6.9
Total C 2.3 t ± 1.8
C‐content= 6.4% tC ± 1.5
N‐content = 0.4% ± 0.1
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
posium –
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January
17/18 - 2013
Dendroanthracology
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
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17/18 - 2013
Dendrochronological dating of charcoal kilns: a new method for datinghistorical land use at the upper timberline Backmeroff, di Pasquale, 2001
1859
1530
330 years
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
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Centennial time‐scale C‐sequestration1° Medite
rranean Biochar S
ymposiu
m –Ita
ly, Ja
nuary17/18 - 2013
Soil + Charcoal mixture
Charcoal fragments
Inorganic C Organic C
Pyrogenic Non‐pyrogenic
Soil organicmatterWell mixed
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
posium –
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January
17/18 - 2013
C‐conten
t
Control soil
Hearth’s soil
Charcoal fragments
Stable C isotopic ratio
CO2
CO2
6%
23%
60%
‐26.5‰‐24.7‰‐24.5‰1° Medite
rranean Biochar S
ymposiu
m –Ita
ly, Ja
nuary17/18 - 2013
CO2
CO2
Hearths’ soils
Control soils
Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CRDS)
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
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January
17/18 - 2013
Hearth soil = 7337.6x -26.52R2 = 0.9451
Control soil = 7568.3x -26.542R2 = 0.9677
-21
-19
-17
-15
-13
-11
-9
-7
-50.0008 0.0013 0.0018 0.0023 0.0028
1/[C]
13C
Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CRDS)Keeling plot (13C of the CO2 efflux)
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
posium –
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January
17/18 - 2013
C‐conten
t
Control soil
Hearth’s soil
Charcoal fragments
Stable C isotopic ratio
CO2
CO2
6%
23%
60%
‐26.5‰‐24.7‰‐24.5‰
Mass balance
CCHAR = CTOT (13CSOIL ‐ 13CSOM) / (13CCHAR ‐ 13CSOM)
87‐89% of C of pyrogenic origin
‐26.5‰
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
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January
17/18 - 2013
y = -11.724x - 24.256R2 = 0.9826
-28
-27
-26
-25
-24
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.31/C
13C
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
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January
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2.0 t C hrt‐1
193 m3 ha‐1 = 174 t ha‐1Win = Win /(nr. hearts ha‐1)
Char = Cin/() 161 t Char hrt‐1
W = Char / 645 t W hrt‐1
212 t C ha‐1
Singh et al. 2012: 30‐40% C‐loss in 155 years 280‐340 m3 ha‐1
1° Mediterra
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January
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Soil fertility after 155 years1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
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January
17/18 - 2013
P+K+
Ca
Cu Fe
K
Mg Mn
P
ZN
Ca+
-50.00
0.00
50.00
100.00
150.00
200.00
250.00
300.00
%
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
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17/18 - 2013
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50
Hearths soils
Control soils
Total plant dry mass (g)
Strawberry experiment(greenhouse, 15 days, well watered)
+107%
1° Mediterra
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1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
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17/18 - 2013
CONCLUSIONS
After 155 years since incorporation of biochar:
I. C‐sequestration is substantial
II. The amount of Carbon degraded/leached is likely less thanpredicted by current models
III. No traumatic responses of the vegetation
IV. Increased soil fertility
CAUTION: the results applies for one type of biochar, applied to a mountain grasslandsoil at 2000m elevation. Be careful with excessive generalization…
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
posium –
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January
17/18 - 2013
CONCLUSIONS
A unique resource for other investigations
• We are ready to offer collaborative access to data, records, samples for any novel investigation in Val di Pejo...
1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
posium –
Italy,
January
17/18 - 2013
Acknowledgments
• 1st Mediterranean Biochar Symposium’s organizers
• VII°FP ‐ EuroChar Project
• FIRST – E.Mach Foundation Doctoral Programme
• Universitè Pierre Marie Curie, Paris
• FoxLab – Forest & Wood Science Initiative (CNR/FEM)
Thanks for your attention!!!1° Mediterra
nean Biochar Sym
posium –
Italy,
January
17/18 - 2013