Integrating biochar into a manure system Whether made from manure or other feedstuffs, biochar provides benefits when land applied. by Rebecca Larson and Joseph Sanford
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iochar is a carbon-based product resulting from pyrolysis, where feedstocks (wood chips, corncobs, or even manure solids, for example) are heated without oxygen to high temperatures to produce oils and gas that can be used for energy. Biochar is what remains after that process. The product contains a lot of carbon and is very low density, meaning a large bag can be very lightweight (5 to 20 pounds per cubic foot). The biochar can contain a variety of nutrients and other materials depending upon what was within the feedstocks made to create the biochar. One of the most interesting things about biochar is the structure, which is very porous — think lots of tiny gaps or void space where air and water can move through the biochar. The structure provides a lot of places for all kinds of different molecules to bind to the biochar, allows air and water to enter, and even provides a place for microorganisms to grow. This is important because biochar characteristics can change how effective the biochar is for a particular application.
Made from manure Characteristics vary depending upon what the biochar was produced from (the feedstock), the temperature it was
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Biochar can be made from different feedstocks. Pictured here are A. corncob; B. manure; C. poplar wood; and D. birch wood. produced at (300 to 800°C), and the duration it was produced, among other factors. These factors are important when starting to examine how biochar can be most effectively integrated into manure systems.
18 | Journal of Nutrient Management | November 2020
F3 18-19 Nov 2020 Biochar.indd 1
Biochar can be made from manure solids, or it can be made from other feedstocks and integrated into manure systems. Biochar can be used for a variety of applications, such as reducing hydrogen sulfide production or recovjofnm.com
10/23/20 8:16 AM
