1st Asia Pacific Biochar Conference
W at e r m a r k H o t e l | G o l d C o a s t | A u s t r a l i a | 1 7 - 2 0 M ay 2 0 0 9
Welcome to the 1st Asia Pacific Biochar Conference! This conference features speakers from the Asia Pacific region presenting the latest scientific research on biochar, and business opportunities for development of a biochar industry. We have accepted 57 submitted abstracts for posters and oral presentations, and are pleased to present a comprehensive and well-rounded program that brings together academics, farmers, media, policy makers and industry from around the region. We are particularly pleased to welcome Professor Dr Johannes Lehmann and Professor Makoto Ogawa as conference keynote speakers. The goals of the conference are to: • share expertise on aspects of biochar characterisation, standardisation and its application to soil • provide information on biochar production technologies and renewable energy • discuss business models for development of a biochar industry • debate the environmental benefits of biochar, including mitigation of major (CO2) and trace (CH4 and N2O) greenhouse gases • discuss policy issues that impact on development of the biochar industry.
1st Asia Pacific Biochar Conference
Wat e r m a r k H o t e l | G o l d C o a s t | A u s t r a l i a | 1 7 - 2 0 M ay 2 0 0 9
1 s t A s i a Pa c i f i c B i o ch a r C o n f e r e n c e 2 0 0 9 ANZ Biochar Researchers Network 2009
© NSW Department of Primary Industries on behalf of the ANZ Biochar Researchers Network 2009 This publication is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in an unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal use or for non-commercial use within your organisation. To copy, adapt, publish, distribute or commercialise any of this publication you will need to seek permission from the Manager Publishing, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, NSW Australia For updates to this publication, check ANZ Biochar Researchers Network http://www.anzbiochar.org/ Published by NSW Department of Primary Industries First published May 2009 ISBN 978 0 7347 1973 7
Acknowledgements The conference organising committee acknowledges the generosity of keynote presenters Professor Johannes Lehmann and Professor Makoto Ogawa in giving precious time to present their work at the conference. The committee thanks all sponsors, whose generosity enabled the committee to sponsor delegates from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, India and Fiji. The committee also acknowledges the hard work of the following people: •
• •
NSW DPI: Lee Munro (organisation), Josh Rust and Scott Petty (preparation), Rebecca Lines-Kelly (proceedings), Elspeth Berger (photography), Brad Lane (IT support), Lyn Cullen (administration) Watermark Hotel: Karen Kuss and Joelene Craig Carleen Imlach, evoke design (proceedings design)
Photographs Cover: top left - Scanning electron micrograph of biochar. Adriana Downie, BEST Energies top centre - Biochar amended Ferrosol. Stephen Kimber, NSW DPI top right - Sugarcane in biochar-amended soil, Tweed Valley. Stephen Kimber, NSW DPI bottom - Seedlings in biochar-amended soil. Adriana Downie, BEST Energies Inside: All photos of greenwaste biochar in the proceedings by Elspeth Berger, NSW DPI Disclaimer The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (May 2009). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information on which they rely is up to date and to check the currency of the information with the individual author or the user’s independent advisor. Opinions expressed in the sponsors’ editorials are those of the sponsors and their inclusion does not imply endorsement by NSW Department of Primary Industries or the ANZ Biochar Researchers Network. Editorials from sponsors were not edited.
Contents Organising committee Keynote speakers Conference convenors Sponsors Conference program Abstracts Index of abstracts
1 2-3 4-5 6-15 17 23 103
Ms Adriana Downie BEST Energies Australia
Prof Stephen Joseph University of NSW
Mr Steve Kimber NSW Department of Primary Industries
Dr Evelyn Krull CSIRO
Mr Jerome Matthews Australian Biochar
Dr Attilio Pigneri Massey University, New Zealand
Dr Akira Shibata Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Dr Yoshiyuki Shinogi National Institute for Rural Engineering, Japan
Organising committee
Dr Annette Cowie NSW Department of Primary Industries
Dr Lukas Van Zwieten NSW Department of Primary Industries
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Professor Johannes Lehmann Cornell University, USA Johannes Lehmann, associate professor of soil biogeochemistry and soil fertility management at Cornell University, received his graduate degrees in soil science at the University of Bayreuth, Germany. During the past 10 years, he has focused on nano-scale investigations of soil organic matter, the biogeochemistry of black carbon and the development of biochar and bioenergy systems. Dr Lehmann is co-founder and chair of the Board of the International Biochar Initiative, and a member of the editorial boards of Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems and Plant and Soil.
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Osaka Institute of Technology, Japan Professor Ogawa graduated from the doctoral course of Applied Botany, Faculty of Agriculture at Kyoto University in 1967. He was engaged as the leader of soil microbiology, mushroom sciences in the Forestry and Forest Products Institute (MAFF), and then worked in the Biological Environment Institute as director until 2007. His major research fields are mycorrhizae, ecology of soil microorganisms, mushrooms and forest ecology. He has studied reforestation techniques in tropical regions and devastated areas using mycorrhizae and charcoal, and investigated charcoal use in agriculture since the 1980s. He has published many text books and scientific papers and has received the Japan Forestry Prize (1980), IUFRO Scientific Achievement Award (1981), Nikkei Environment Technology Award (1998), Japan Mycological Education Prize (2000) and Global 100 Eco-Tech Award (2005). At present he is working as the opinion leader of the CSFC Project (Carbon sequestration by forestation and charcoal use) and as chair of Sea Coast Forest Rehabilitation and the Japan Biochar Association.
Keynote speakers
Professor Makoto Ogawa
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Australian and New Zealand Biochar Researchers Network http://www.anzbiochar.org/ The Australian and New Zealand Biochar Researchers Network, formed in 2008, is a group of researchers interested in advancing scientific understanding of the production and utilisation of biochar. Collectively our aim is to undertake collaborative research, promote the adoption of proven biochar applications, and communicate the opportunities presented by biochar to policy makers, land managers, the public, industry and fellow scientists. The Network supports the use of biochars made from sustainably harvested and renewable biomass resources, using biochar production processes that meet relevant environmental, health and safety standards, minimise net greenhouse gas emissions, and do not adversely affect air and water quality. While our focus is biochar research in the Australian and New Zealand context, we also engage in and encourage broader international collaboration. The ANZBRN website provides basic information about biochar and describes current research projects. The network is a platinum conference sponsor.*
Japan Biochar Association http://www.geocities.jp/yasizato/JBA The Japan Biochar Association was established on 4 April 2009. It is named as an association rather than an initiative because biochar has been produced and used by farmers, foresters, gardeners and builders in Japan for more than 20 years. The association’s objectives are listed below. 1. Define standards for the production and utilisation of biochar. 2. Evaluate the net carbon sink capacity of biochar. 3. Advocate biochar potential to combat global warming. 4. Network with Asian countries to promote international progress on biochar. 5. Establish an institution for certification of biochar carbon sinks in Japan. For more information, see the website, currently in Japanese. An English version of the website is coming soon. We hope many Asian friends will join in our movement.
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Contact: Akira Shibata, Ritsumeikan University asv28054@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp
http://www.biochar-international.org/home.html IBI is a registered non-profit organisation supporting researchers, commercial entities, policy makers, development agents, farmers and gardeners, and others committed to supporting sustainable biochar production and utilisation systems that remove carbon from the atmosphere and enhance the earth’s soils. It advocates biochar as a strategy to: • improve the Earth’s soils • help mitigate the anthropogenic greenhouse effect by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering atmospheric carbon in a stable soil carbon pool • improve water quality by retaining agrochemicals.
Conference convenors
International Biochar Initiative
The IBI also promotes: • sustainable co-production of clean energy and other bio-based products as part of the biochar process • efficient biomass utilisation in developing country agriculture • cost-effective utilisation of urban, agricultural and forest co-products. IBI supports biochar production and utilisation systems that reduce net greenhouse (GHG) emissions on a full GHG lifecycle analysis, that do not contribute to direct or indirect land use change, and that are supported by indigenous peoples and stakeholders.
* The following pages feature our other platinum ($5000), gold ($3500) and silver ($1500) conference sponsors. We would also like to acknowledge Rick Davies, philanthropist, as a platinum sponsor. Rick Davies is a consultant for international development aid programs and is interested in applications of biochar that could benefit poor rural communities in Africa and Asia, via increased soil fertility and income from carbon credit and carbon offset sales. www.mande.co.uk
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Platinum Sponsor
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Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
BEST Energies has engaged with the broader research community and invested heavily in the market development of their AgricharTM biochar product. Clients of our proprietary BEST PyrocharTM technology, through their licensing agreement, gain access to the use of this industry recognised brand, with the associated guarantees of product quality control and best practice environmental and engineering standards. BEST Energies Australia are part of the BEST Energies family of companies which offers economically viable answers to the interrelated problems of declining oil and gas reserves, greenhouse gas production and global warming. By combining proprietary biomass technologies with proven production solutions BEST is building distributed, clean energy production networks for our customers. Our solutions focus on using renewable bio-based resources, helping the environment through preventative management of the excessive biomass waste streams which are responsible for many of the problem greenhouse gases. By converting these waste streams into a stable form the by-product is an effective carbon sequestration mechanism. BEST Energies Australia holds a portfolio of proprietary key technologies that significantly improve the economics of pyrolysis and gasification of biomass streams. These advancements are essential for the creation of clean energy alternatives to traditional oil and coal based fuels. By bringing together the leading pyrolysis experts from around the world, with more than 20 years of research and development experience, we have created a rich, patentable pipeline of productivity and efficiency enhancement and 1st mover products. When our customers are faced with waste management and green energy generation challenges we provide integrated bioenergy solutions engineered to their specific needs. The distributed solutions we create allow production near biomass sources and close to consumption centres. Because of our scalability, we have clean energy solutions for a wide range of commercial and governmental producers and users of energy and the majority of producers of biomass and biowaste products.
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Platinum Sponsor
Richmond Landcare Incorporated: the Landcare Network representing Landcare Groups in the Richmond Catchment of Northern NSW Originally named the Richmond Catchment Landcare Group, incorporated in January 1998 as a “not for profit” association, had the task of sourcing grant funding from the Federal and State Governments to be “parked” in an incorporated entity and subsequently passed on to various Landcare/Dunecare/Bushcare community groups for environmental projects. Funds were also used to employ Landcare Coordinators. In 2000 the organisation attained the tax status of a “charitable fund”. Three years later, the original founders of Richmond Catchment Landcare Inc. handed management of the entity over to landcare groups within the Richmond Catchment and the name of the organisation changed to Richmond Landcare Inc. The organization continued to pursue available grants and employ landcare coordinators, community support officers and specific project officers. Funding originates from Federal, State and Local Government agencies, the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority as well as private organisations. Richmond Landcare Inc. is managed by a committee of seven volunteers who are nominated by landcare member groups of the association. These seven committee members have in total more than 70 years experience in landcare. They also have had careers and or currently are involved in education, banking, public relations, finance and corporate management both in Australia and overseas, auctioneering, horticulture, beef cattle and forestry. There are more than 65 life member groups (with over 3,000 individual members) in the Richmond Landcare Network. Of these member groups, 14 are school (junior) landcare groups, 23 are farmer related landcare groups and the remaining are community rainforest/ dunecare regeneration groups. Examples of our projects are: 1. A Caring For Our Country Grant from the Australian Government running until 2011 which is in partnership with the NSWDPI for “carbon sequestration and biochar.” 2. A Community Support Officer grant from the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority to provide support to environmental community groups in the East Richmond Catchment.. 3. A Soils Grant for the Cudgen Plateau from the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority to remedy soil erosion on the vegetable farms on that plateau. 4. A Dairy Waste Composting grant from the Australian Government National Landcare Program
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In addition to the above, Richmond Landcare is providing $40,000 towards the cost of an interpretive centre at Flat Rock, Ballina. This building will serve as shelter for the thousands of school children who visit Flat Rock each year for their environmental studies. On this project we are in partnership with the Aboriginal Community, Ballina Shire Council, Angels Beach Dunecare, the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority and several local businesses.
Platinum Sponsor
Th e P r i m a r y I n d u s t r i e s I n n o vat i o n C e n t r e ( P II C ) PIIC, Directed by Professor Bob Martin, is a joint venture partnership between the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and the University of New England (UNE) to boost primary industries research, extension and training outcomes. PIIC develops science-based innovative solutions to crises and trends that affect rural communities and the industries that they rely on. PIIC is therefore committed to improving the profitability and sustainability of primary industries through research and development, education, extension and training which is relevant to northern areas of New South Wales in particular but which also has national and/or international relevance. The work of the PIIC is aimed at two types of outcome. • Integrated approaches to research, teaching and extension aimed at ensuring improvement in sustainable primary production; and • Coordination and co-investment of resources to improve cost-effectiveness in delivering services and improving outcomes from these services. The National Centre of Rural Greenhouse Gas Research (NCRGGR) is a new jointly funded initiative of UNE and the NSW DPI and will be administered through PIIC. Professor Annette Cowie commenced as Director, NCRGGR on 4th May 2009. Annette’s research interests include: greenhouse accounting for forests, wood products and bioenergy; soil carbon management; emissions trading in the forest and agricultural sectors; and biochar as a soil amendment. Annette’s immediate role as Director of NCRGGR will be to manage new projects funded under the federal Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Climate Change Research Program. These projects include research and on-farm demonstrations to help prepare Australia’s primary industries for climate change and build the resilience of the agricultural sector into the future. The program involves projects that provide practical management solutions to farmers and industries. Projects are focussing on: • reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. • improving soil management and determining the potential of sequestration of carbon in agricultural soils – in a variety of soil types, locations and under differing management practices. The following UNE-DPI projects have received funding in the Climate Change Research Program: Land – the Carbon Bank – Professor Annette Cowie Genetic Improvement of Beef Cattle for Greenhouse Gas Outcomes – Dr Roger Hegarty Novel strategies for enteric methane abatement – Dr Roger Hegarty Mitigating nitrous oxide emissions from soils – Dr Graeme Schwenke Contact:
Professor Bob Martin Director, Primary Industries Innovation Centre University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351
Phone Fax Mobile Email
02 6773 2869 02 6773 3238 0411 109 610 bob.martin@une.edu.au
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Platinum Sponsor
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Platinum Sponsor
The Queensland Government, like most governments worldwide, is grappling with the issue of how to best reduce greenhouse gas emissions and effectively sequester the emissions that cannot be reduced. The Queensland Government’s Office of Climate Change, incorporating the Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence (QCCCE), is engaged in work on carbon sequestration in the rural sector. Biochar production technologies may offer considerable potential for carbon sequestration. However, there is a need to strengthen our knowledge of the benefits they might deliver in local applications. There are a wide range of soil types across Queensland. Current research indicates that the response of these soils to biochar is variable in terms of both effectiveness to sequester carbon and also in the beneficial effects of the material. The potential benefits include the reduced use of inorganic fertilisers produced and transported using fossil fuels and a reduction of the nitrous oxide emissions that occur when inorganic fertilisers are applied. Given the expensive nature of research trials and the need to assess a wide range of soil types, a modelling approach is required to examine the many combinations of source material and soil types. Accounting for the carbon that is sequestered through biochar or any other technology is also a major challenge. The Queensland Government is pleased to support the Asia Pacific Biochar Conference, as a key opportunity to bring together experts in the biochar field and to share the latest research evidence about the carbon sequestration potential associated with biochar production technologies.
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Platinum Sponsor
NSW Department of Primary Industries NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) is the largest provider of science and research services within the NSW Government. The department undertakes strategic science which underpins the growth, sustainability and biosecurity of primary industries in New South Wales. The Science and Research Division has over 700 scientists and technicians working on more than 900 projects in collaboration with government and research partners, universities and industry groups. In 2007/08 the NSW government and external partners contributed over $100M towards these projects. For the past decade, NSW DPI has investigated strategies to help the state’s primary industries cope with a variable and changing climate and inform governmental climate change mitigation programs. In 2007/08 NSW DPI participated in 121 projects to improve water use efficiency, mitigate greenhouse gas emission, adapt to climate variability or improve soil health. Soil-based problems cost Australia over $2700 million annually. Healthy soils hold more moisture, are more productive and have the potential to sequester a significant proportion of NSW’s carbon emissions. As part of the department’s soils research program, NSW DPI has developed research partnerships with university, government, industry, landcare and farmers to evaluate the use of biochar for climate mitigation, adaptation and economic development. Activities include: • 160 field plots under management on research stations and farms throughout the state • NATA accredited laboratories for chemical characterisation of biochars, soils and plant tissue • ISO9001:2000 certified research facilities for testing biochars in laboratory, glasshouse and field studies • Greenhouse gas emission monitoring from soil to test benefits of biochar • Biometrical support • Involvement in ANZ Biochar Researchers Network and International Biochar Initiative • Managing scoping studies for business development and implementation of biochar production technologies • Lifecycle assessment • Economic assessment of biochar
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Gold Sponsor Biosequestration is a path to combat climate change but it requires vast quantities of biochar to be manufactured using waste biomass and applied to soil. The challenge is to find a commercially viable agricultural mechanism to facilitate this process. AnthroTerra is responding to this challenge by leading the R&D to develop a stable carbon rich additive able to be applied to soil using existing agricultural techniques to mimic the effect of the larger application rates. www.anthroterra.com.au
Silver Sponsor Australian Biochars would like to welcome all delegates and guests to the conference. Biochar research is rightly at the vanguard of international efforts to both alleviate hunger through generating increased crop yields and reduce global warming by the sequestration of greenhouse gases. The region’s researchers and scientists are to be congratulated.Australian Biochars wishes all attendees an informative, productive and most of all an enjoyable 1st Asia Pacific Biochar Conference. www.biochars.com
Jerome Matthews, Director
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Silver Sponsors
BioSol a v is a business modeling company. Logo a moving green globe atop a tree symbolises that earth will go around only when it remains green. The signature statement adapto velox meaning, “adopt fast” underscores its belief that intervention should be fast as technologies are there in plenty. Active in the area of bio-char, renewable energy, fossil fuel analogs such as DME and bio Hydrogen Tripod Projects---EnerGreen Power---Venus Engineers are technology associates.
www.biosolav.com
Principal advisor and partner is Mr. Krushnun Venkat who can be reached at Mobile: 91-98400 28596 Email: krushnunv@yahoo.com
Transfield Services is a leading global provider of operations, maintenance and project management services to key industries in the resources, industrial, infrastructure and facilities management sectors; with more than 29,000 employees in Australia, New Zealand, North America and the Middle East. Transfield Services is publicly listed in Australia and included in the S&P/ ASX 100. Transfield Services sees great potential in biochar as a technology for addressing major challenges like climate change and declining soil fertility. www.transfieldservices.com
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www.soilcare.org
SoilCare Inc is a Landcare group based in northern New South Wales, Australia. Ninety percent of the members are farmers and the remaining members are soil professionals. All members share an interest in soil processes and a commitment to sustainable soil management. SoilCare objectives are to access and share current information on soil management; secure funding for educational seminars and workshops; sponsor fieldtrips; and address soil issues of sustainability and productivity to promote secure livelihoods and vigorous communities. SoilCare also sponsors TAFE biological farming courses and ‘SoilCare Expo’, a one-day event showcasing sustainable soil management strategies and products.
Silver Sponsors
The Northern Rivers CMA is a proud supporter of the Asia Pacific Biochar Conference, 2009. Along with our partners, NSW DPI, Soilcare and Richmond Landcare, we look forward to demonstrating local soil health projects that have increased soil carbon and improved soil condition. Supporting the development of such innovations in natural resource management enhances our communities ability to effectively contribute to the broader goals of reduced impacts of climate change and the creation of resilient natural landscapes in the long term.
Gansel Australia is pleased to announce the launch of its Outback Biochar premium soil conditioner at the Asia Pacific Biochar Conference. Outback Biochar will be available from the company’s website and through national resellers working to bring biochar into the hands of Australian gardeners. The company’s aim is to increase public awareness about the benefits of biochar while demonstrating the economic viability of what we consider to be a cornerstone of future environmental policy. Gansel Australia: 02 9773 9455 www.outbackbiochar.com
The New Zealand Biochar Research Centre (NZBRC) aims to advance the understanding of biochar for mitigating global climate change and to enable its use in New Zealand, particularly by agricultural and forestry sectors. The work at the NZBRC is organized into three closely linked streams of R&D activities:
www.biochar.org.nz
• soil science and biochar • pyrolysis plant and biochar engineering • biochar and greenhouse mitigation strategies
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Time 4.00 pm 6.00 8.00pm
Activity Presentation Speaker Registration and speaker preparation Welcome reception, Atlantis Auditorium, Level 2 Watermark Hotel Welcome address by The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP
Day 2: Monday 18 May 2009 Time 7.30 am 8.15 am
Biochar characterisation Chair: Adriana Downie
Biochar characterisation Chair: Lukas Van Zwieten
8.30 am
Activity Presentation Registration Speaker preparation Opening address Keynote address Biochar: Science and policy
Speaker
Page
TBA Prof. Johannes Lehmann Cornell University US
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9.25 am
Platinum sponsor presentation
Queensland Government
9.30 am
Session keynote
Biochar: How stable is it? And how accurately do we need to know?
Evelyn Krull CSIRO Glen Osmond SA
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10.00 am
Oral presentation
Turnover of biochars in soil: Preliminary estimates based on two years of observation
Bhupinderpal Singh NSW DPI, West Pennant Hills
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10.20 am
Platinum sponsor presentation
Crucible Carbon
10.25 am
Morning tea
10.50 am
Oral presentation
Influence of biochar on the availability of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn to maize (Zea mays L.)
Balwant Singh University of Sydney
30
11.10 am
Oral presentation
Biochar addition to soils: Implications for pesticide persistence and efficacy
Rai Kookana CSIRO Land & Water, Glen Osmond
31
11.30 am
Oral presentation
Detailed analyses of 20 year old biochar recovered from Bolivian lowland agricultural soils
Nikolaus Foidl Venearth Group USA
32
11.50 am
Oral presentation
A simple method for determining Ron Smernik biochar condensation University of Adelaide
Conference program
Day 1: Sunday 17 May 2009
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Day 2 (continued) Time
Activity 3 minute poster oral
Presentation Development of a synthetic Terra Preta (STP): Characterisation and initial research findings Detailed characterisation of biochars obtained from NZ feedstocks at different pyrolysis temperatures Evaluation of laboratory procedures for the characterisation of biochars Temperature sensitivity of black carbon decomposition and oxidation Black carbon characterisation: Implications for understanding biochar behaviour in depositional environments Retention capacity of three types of biochar for estrogenic steroid hormones in dairy farm soil Simulating the weathering of biochar with a Soxhlet reactor
Speaker C Chia University of NSW
3 minute poster oral
3 minute poster oral
3 minute poster oral
3 minute poster oral
3 minute poster oral
3 minute poster oral
3 minute poster oral
Biochar production & technologies Chair: Attilio Pigneri
Biochar characterisation Chair: Adriana Downie
3 minute poster oral
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William Aitkenhead Massey University, New Zealand
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Balwant Singh University of Sydney
38
Binh Thanh Nguyen Cornell University, Ithaca
39
Michael Bird James Cook University, Cairns
40
Ajit Sarmah Landcare Research, New Zealand
41
FX Yao Massey University, New Zealand
42
Characterisation of chars produced from different carbonisation processes
Marta Camps-Arbestain Massey University, New Zealand
44
A fundamental understanding of biochar: Implications and opportunities for the grains industry
Lynne M Macdonald CSIRO
45
12.45 pm
Lunch and poster viewing
1.45 pm
Oral presentation
Carbonisation of empty fruit bunches using the hydrothermal method
Nsamba Hussein Kisiki Universiti Putra Malaysia
46
2.05 pm
Oral presentation
Production of charcoal compost from organic solid waste
Gustan Pari Forest Products RDC Indonesia
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2.25 pm
Oral presentation
Assessment of yield, salt tolerance and energy conversion of Arundo donax, a potential biochar and biofuel crop
Chris Williams SARDI
48
2.45 pm
3 minute poster oral
A simple method for production of porous bamboo charcoal
Gou Yamamoto International Charcoal Co-op Association Japan
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Time
3 minute poster oral
Biochar production & technologies Chair: Attilio Pigneri Business models for commercialisation Chair: Yoshiyuku Shinogi
Activity 3 minute poster oral
Presentation Preparation of low volatile charcoal for liquid steel recarburisation plant trials Maximising char yield from pyrolysis of low cost biomass
Speaker Michael Somerville CSIRO
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Rex Manderson Chaotech Pty Ltd Australia
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3 minute poster oral
Openchar: Open-sourced biochar Andrew Murphy production technology Hatch, Brisbane
52
3 minute poster oral
Project 540: Low-emission, low cost biochar kilns for small farms and villages
Paul Taylor Rainforest Information Centre, Australia
53
3 minute poster oral
Maximising environmental and economic benefits of biochar production using an innovative indirectly-fired kiln technology
Matthew Martella University of Western Australia
55
Joe Herbertson Crucible Carbon Pty Ltd Australia
57
3.10 pm
Afternoon tea and poster viewing
3.35 pm
Session keynote
Carbon abatement potential and sustainability credentials of Project Rainbow Bee Eater
4.05 pm
Platinum sponsor presentation
BEST Energies
4.10 pm
Oral presentation
Agro-economic valuation of biochar using field-derived data
Lukas Van Zwieten NSW DPI, Wollongbar
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4.30 pm
Oral presentation
Biochar: A people initiative
Krushnun Venkat BioSol India
59
4.50 pm
3 minute poster oral
Development of sustainable fuels Michael Somerville and reductants for the iron and CSIRO steel Industry
4.55 pm
Panel discussion
Biochar: Addressing the unanswered questions What criticisms have been levelled at biochar? Are these criticisms valid? What are the knowledge gaps? How do we address these issues?
5.30 pm
Close
7.00 pm
Gala dinner
8.30 pm
Keynote address
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Johannes Lehmann Makoto Ogawa Annette Cowie Chair: Rebecca Lines-Kelly
TBA
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Environmental benefits of biochar including greenhouse gas mitigation Chair: Steve Kimber
Day 3: Tuesday 19 May 2009 Time 8.15 am 8.30 am
Activity Housekeeping Keynote address
Presentation
Speaker
Charcoal use in agriculture in Japan
Professor Makoto Ogawa Osaka Institute of Technology, Japan
61
9.15 am
Platinum sponsor address
NSW Department of Primary Industries
9.20 am
Session keynote
Discovering Terra Preta Australis: Rethinking the capacity of Australian soils to sequester C
Adriana Downie BEST Energies
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9.50 am
Platinum sponsor address
Richmond Landcare Inc.
9.55 am
Session keynote
Greenhouse gas mitigation benefits of biochar as a soil amendment
Annette Cowie NSW DPI West Pennant Hills
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10.25am
Platinum sponsor address
University of New EnglandNational Centre Rural Greenhouse Gas Research
10.30 am
Morning tea and poster viewing
11.00 am
Oral presentation
Estimation of net carbon sequestration potential with farmland application of bagassechar: Lifecycle CO2 analysis through a pilot pyrolysis plant
Yoshiyuki Shinogi National Institute for Rural Engineering, Japan
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11.20 am
Oral presentation
Biochar effects on nitrous oxide emissions from a pasture soil
Leo Condron Lincoln University New Zealand
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11.40 am
3 minute poster oral
Influence of biochars on nitrous oxide emission and nutrient leaching from two contrasting soils
Bhupinderpal Singh NSW DPI West Pennant Hills
71
3 minute poster oral
BEST pyrolysis of waste wood: Greenhouse gas balance assessment
Adriana Downie BEST Energies
72
3 minute poster oral
Biochar holds potential for reducing soil emissions of greenhouse gases
Steve Kimber NSW Dept of Primary Industries, Wollongbar
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Page
Effects of biochar utilisation Chair: Jerome Matthews
Time 11.50 am
Activity Session keynote
Presentation Speaker The reaction of soil with high and Stephen Joseph low mineral ash content biochars University of NSW, Australia Mantria Industries USA
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12.20 pm
Platinum sponsor presentation
12.25 pm
Oral presentation
The role for biochar in Robert Quirk management of the agricultural Duranbah landscape: A farmer’s perspective
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12.45 pm
Oral presentation
Productivity and nutrient availability on a Ferrosol: Biochar, lime and fertiliser
Katrina Sinclair NSW Dept of Primary Industries, Wollongbar
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1.05 pm
Lunch and poster viewing
2.00 pm
Oral presentation
Evidence for biochar saving fertiliser for dryland wheat production in Western Australia
Paul Blackwell Department of Agriculture and Food WA, Geraldton
80
2.20 pm
Oral presentation
Charcoal application for poultry farming
Tsuyoshi Hirowaka International Charcoal Co-op Association, Japan
81
2.40 pm
Oral presentation
Effect of biochar application on soil amelioration and growth of Acacia mangium (Willd.) and Michelia montana Blume
Chairil Siregar Forestry Research and Development Agency Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia
82
3.00 pm
3 minute poster oral
The effects of biochars on maize (Zea mays) germination
Helen Free Massey University New Zealand
83
3 minute poster oral
Effect of bagasse charcoal and digested slurry on sugarcane growth and physical properties of Shimajiri-maji soil
Yoshiyuki Shinogi National Institute for Rural Engineering, Japan
84
3 minute poster oral
Concepts of dryland farming systems incorporating biochar and carbon-rich biological fertilisers
Paul Blackwell Department of Agriculture and Food WA, Geraldton
85
3 minute poster oral
Soil nutrient retention under biochar-amended broadacre cropping soils in southern NSW
David Waters NSW DPI, Wagga Wagga
86
3 minute poster oral
Nitrogen use efficiency improves using greenwaste biochar
Lukas Van Zwieten NSW DPI, Wollongbar
87
21 1 s t A s i a Pa c i f i c B i o ch a r C o n f e r e n c e 2 0 0 9
Day 3 (continued)
Policy issues for the biochar industry Chair: Annette Cowie
Effects of biochar utilisation Chair: Jerome Matthews
Time
3.35 pm 4.05 pm
4.35 pm
4.55 pm 5.30 pm
Activity 3 minute poster oral
Presentation Effect of biochar on mycorrhizal colonisation in subterranean clover and wheat growth Preliminary assessment of the agronomic value of synthetic Terra Preta (STP)
Speaker Zakaria Solaiman University of Western Australia 3 minute poster oral Paul Blackwell Department of Agriculture and Food WA, Geraldton 3 minute poster oral Biochar research in sandy soils of Hoang Minh Tam central coastal Vietnam Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Science 3 minute poster oral Developing collaborative biochar Malem McLeod research in Aceh, Indonesia NSW DPI, Tamworth 3 minute poster oral Towards a faster and broader Tek Narayan Maraseni application of biochar: Assessing University of Southern and recommending appropriate Queensland, marketing mechanisms Toowoomba 3 minute poster oral Prime Carbon presents a program Debra Burden that rewards farmers with carbon Prime Carbon Pty Ltd, credits for increasing the carbon Townsville in their soil Afternoon tea and poster viewing Session keynote The New Zealand Biochar Marta Camps-Arbestain Research Centre: Firmly walking Massey University on the ‘ground’ New Zealand Oral presentation Opportunities and challenges Attilio Pigneri for biochar/bioenergy systems Massey University in the compliance and voluntary New Zealand carbon markets Workshop wrap-up Stephen Joseph and Evelyn Krull Post conference canapés and drinks
Day 4: Wednesday 20 May 2009 - Post conference field tour Time 8.00 am 9.00 am 9.30 am 10.30 am 11.30 am 12.30 pm 1.00 pm 1.30 pm 3.00 pm
22 1 s t A s i a Pa c i f i c B i o ch a r C o n f e r e n c e 2 0 0 9
Activity Depart Watermark Hotel Arrive sugar cane site, Tweed Valley Depart sugar cane site Arrive NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar field sites Lunch at NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar Depart NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar Arrive Baclisin, avocado and macadamia farm Depart Baclisin Arrive Watermark Hotel
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Abstracts 23 1 s t A s i a Pa c i f i c B i o ch a r C o n f e r e n c e 2 0 0 9
Biochar: Science and Policy Johannes Lehmann Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853 USA CL273@cornell.edu The science of biochar has made rapid progress in the past two years since the biochar research and development community began creating platforms for communication. The International Biochar Initiative (IBI) builds on regional activities that drive research and national policy debate. This first regional conference of the Asia Pacific Biochar Initiative is a testament to the interest in advancing the development of our knowledge on biochar. The impressive mobilising of intellectual capacity is mirrored by an equally impressive public interest in biochar and its use in home gardens and on farms. But demand for information on biochar production and application currently outstrips our ability to provide recommendations. The increasing number of scientific publications provides a significant step forward in demonstrating basic scientific principles of biochar behaviour that are critical for refining biochar systems. For example, significant progress has been made in quantifying the stability of biochar and several recent publications calculate a mean residence time in excess of 1000 years (Cheng et al 2008; Lehmann et al 2008; Liang et al 2008; Kuzyakov et al 2009). This body of literature employs both incubation studies that are longer (up to 3.2 years) than have been used previously and modelling of equilibrium conditions under natural char production. It also combines observations of aged and freshly produced biochars which significantly expands the body of published literature that had mostly studied fresh biochars. These analyses need to be expanded to a wider variety of biochar types and soil environments. Interactions between mineral surfaces, metal ions and biochar particles are still insufficiently explored. These refinements are necessary to estimate the extent biochar may be able to mitigate climate change. But it will not question the principal argument of the benefits of biochar soil management for climate change mitigation. The science of biochar is complex; it requires new theories to explain its environmental behaviour, adaptation of established methods for its study, and a systems approach to its appraisal. The required systems thinking is for example made clear by the differences in conclusion drawn from findings by Wardle et al (2008) who interpreted data of mass loss from litterbag experiments as a greater loss of forest humus after the addition of biochar. This interpretation has found criticism because mass loss from the litterbags may not only be explained by mineralisation to carbon dioxide but may also lead to a more rapid stabilisation in mineral soil (Lehmann and Sohi, 2008). Indeed, greater and more rapid incorporation of litter into soil carbon fractions is now being found in the presence of biochar in a number of experiments.
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Biochar: Science and Policy Johannes Lehmann While this process-oriented research is the basis for the evaluation of biochar for environmental management and vital for its adoption, it is not sufficient to ensure the sustainability of biochar systems, so that they deliver agronomic and environmental benefits and are economically viable. We need to know more about, for example, energy outputs and emissions during pyrolysis, methods for applying biochar to soil, and transportation. Yield increases on different soils with different types of biochar require field experimentation. While some information from field trials has recently become available (Steiner et al 2007, 2008; Kimetu et al 2008) the published body of research is still restricted to highly weathered soils. And not a single case study has been published reporting a systems-scale assessment of energy or carbon budgets. The main challenge in the past has been the lack of pyrolysis systems available to stakeholders. A sustainable approach to environmental management of carbon means it must be relevant to farm economies, waste processing facilities and home kitchens. Some groundbreaking advances have recently been made for farm-scale biochar systems (Lehmann and Joseph 2009), and this trend is expected to continue. Communication of research results on biochar provides opportunities and distinct challenges. Realistic expectations must be grounded in reliable basic science as well as site-specific adaptive science. Reliable science has largely been embraced by an increasing number of research organisations, but adaptive science is still in its infancy; learning from implementation is required to be able to scale biochar systems. Only if sufficiently large demonstration projects are available will we we be able to better quantify the potential of biochar. The number and scope of demonstration projects that will advance the development of biochar systems and forecast their long term and large-scale potential are still insufficient, a clear signal for investment in research on biochar. Policy is increasingly investigating the potential of biochar. Biochar has been front page news in Australia and several countries are now preparing internal policy briefs to educate their staff. Intergovernmental organisations are investigating biochar as an option to meet their goals. Feeding unbiased science into this process is critical to advance biochar research and development. From a policy perspective, biochar is certainly a strategy that deserves special attention. Since it has been overlooked for decades, much work needs to be done in a short period of time. But biochar alone will not solve climate change or declining productivity of the world’s soil resources. Conservation of energy, a portfolio of renewable energy options, and sustainable resource management are all part of a broader strategy. Biochar has helped bring soils and carbon sequestration in agricultural landscapes into global discussions. In hindsight it may well turn out to be the entry point that brings a sustainable bioenergy option, an accountable soil carbon sequestration option and a viable soil conservation option, to the negotiation table of national and international policy makers. continued >
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Biochar: Science and Policy Johannes Lehmann References Cheng CH, Lehmann J, Thies JE, Burton S 2008. Stability of black carbon in soils across a climatic gradient. Journal of Geophysical Research 113, G02027. Kimetu J, Lehmann J, Ngoze S, Mugendi D, Kinyangi J, Riha S, Verchot L, Recha J, Pell A 2008. Reversibility of soil productivity decline with organic matter of differing quality along a degradation gradient. Ecosystems 11: 726-739. Kuzyakov Y, Subbotina I, Chen H, Bogomolova I, Xu X 2009. Black carbon decomposition and incorporation into soil microbial biomass estimated by 14C labelling. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 41: 210-219. Lehmann J, Sohi S 2008. Comment on “Fire-derived charcoal causes loss of forest humus”. Science 321: 1295. Lehmann J, Skjemstad JO, Sohi S, Carter J, Barson M, Falloon P, Coleman K, Woodbury P, Krull E 2008. Australian climate-carbon cycle feedback reduced by soil black carbon. Nature Geoscience 1: 832–835. Lehmann J, Joseph S 2009. Biochar systems. In: Lehmann J and Joseph S (eds.) Biochar for Environmental Management: Science and Technology. Earthscan London, 147-168. Liang B, Lehmann J, Solomon D, Sohi S, Thies JE, Skjemstad JO, Luizão FJ, Engelhard MH, Neves EG, Wirick S 2008. Stability of biomass-derived black carbon in soils. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 72, 6096-6078. Steiner C, Teixeira WG, Lehmann J, Nehls T, Macedo JLV, Blum WEH, Zech W 2007. Long term effects of manure, charcoal and mineral fertilisation on crop production and fertility on a highly weathered Central Amazonian upland soil. Plant and Soil 291: 275290. Steiner C, Glaser B, Teixeira WG, Lehmann J, Blum WEH, Zech W 2008. Nitrogen retention and plant uptake on a highly weathered central Amazonian Ferralsol amended with compost and charcoal. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 171: 893-899. Wardle DA, Nilsson MC, Zackrisson O 2008. Fire-derived charcoal causes loss of forest humus. Science 320: 629.
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Biochar: How stable is it? And how accurately do we need to know? Evelyn Krull (1), Annette Cowie (2), Bhupinderpal Singh (2) 1. CSIRO Land and Water, Glen Osmond SA 5064 Australia 2. Forest Science Centre, NSW Department of Primary Industries PO Box 100, Beecroft NSW 2119 Australia Evelyn.Krull@csiro.au In order for biochar to be accepted by emissions trading schemes, it is fundamental to demonstrate the stability (turnover time) of biochar in soil. A review of currently published estimates has placed turnover time of natural and synthesised biochar in the range from decades to centuries to millennia. The wide range in these assessments has several causes. 1. The stability of biochar is highly dependent on the type of biomass feedstock used. 2. Different pyrolysis conditions (temperature, heating time) will create biochars with different degrees of stability. 3. Many studies compare the stability of biochar with that of charcoal produced by natural fires. 4. Different C isotope-based methods (δ13C, 14C, 13C labelling) could be used to assess the stability (expressed either as 14C-age, mean residence time, mean turnover time, half-life etc) of biochar. 5. Edaphic and climatic conditions may influence biochar stability. With regard to (1): Our data from incubation experiments found that biochar produced from chicken manure is chemically (based on 13C-NMR data) very different to biochar produced from wood or green waste, and much less stable. With regard to (2): Biochars produced at higher temperatures (>450ºC) have comparably higher stability than lower temperature biochars. With regard to (3): The presence, quantity and age of natural char from wildfires, recovered from soils and even in the geologic rock record, cannot give a quantitative measure of the stability of synthetic biochars because a) the proportion this remaining charcoal constitutes of the original total is unknown and b) preservation in the geologic record requires unusual circumstances (rapid burial and oxygen exclusion) which cannot be used as an analogue for the biochemical and physical conditions biochars would be subjected to when added to soil. With regard to (4): Due to the highly stable nature of biochar, direct estimation of turnover time of biochar in soil using field or laboratory incubation studies is challenging because it decomposes very slowly during commonly-used experimental periods (ie <5 years) compared to native soil organic matter. Thus, isotopic methods are necessary that allow the approximation over this time period, with each method having its own advantages and disadvantages. continued >
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Biochar: How stable is it? And how accurately to we need to know? Evelyn Krull (1), Annette Cowie (2), Bhupinderpal Singh (2)
With regard to (5), dynamics of decomposition will be affected by soil type (clay type and content), native organic matter content and quality, plant inputs, and soil temperature and moisture. While these uncertainties are an important topic for further scientific studies which will provide vital data for long term models and understanding long term decomposition of different biochars, it is clear that biochars produced through pyrolysis at 400â&#x20AC;&#x201C;500 ÂşC, particularly from woody biomass, are stable over the timescales required for acceptance in emissions trading schemes (eg, >100 years). Thus, the knowledge to date with regard to the stability of biochars is adequate for emissions trading purposes but requires further studies to confirm long term trends (>100 year time scales) and differences in various biochar and soil types. ď Ž
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Turnover of biochars in soil: Preliminary estimates based on two years of observation Bhupinderpal Singh, Annette L Cowie, Kamaljeet Kaur NSW Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 100, Beecroft NSW 2119 Australia Bp.Singh@sf.nsw.gov.au The rate of turnover (decomposition) of biochar carbon (C) is the major determinant of its value in long term C sequestration in soil. Biochar produced during heating of biomass at temperatures >200ºC under limited oxygen supply (pyrolysis) is considered highly resistant to biological degradation due to its increased chemical recalcitrance (aromaticity), compared with the parent feedstock. With some exceptions, C in natural charcoal has been shown to possess turnover time of a few hundred to thousands of years in soil. However, little research has been undertaken to: • document turnover rate of manufactured biochars applied to soil • measure and account for any priming effect of biochar addition on turnover of ‘native’ soil C • elucidate stabilisation mechanisms of biochar C in soil. In order to precisely determine the magnitude and rate at which biochar C is decomposed in soil and released as CO2, we have initiated a long term (at least five years) incubation experiment using a novel method based on measuring the inherent differences in 13C isotope content between biochar and soil. Briefly, biochar materials from a range of C3-vegetation feedstocks (bluegum wood and leaves, paper sludge, poultry manure on rice hull, and cow manure) produced at different temperatures (400ºC or 550ºC) and activation level (activated or non-activated), were applied to soil (Vertosol) collected from a C4-pasture (Astrebla spp.) field. Soil-respired CO2-C and microbial-C and their associated δ13C values are being measured periodically. Additionally, detailed chemical characterisation of organic C fractions (separated physically) is being performed periodically to gain insights into the causes of biochar C stability in soil. Early results show decomposition of biochar C in soil in the first 83 weeks of incubation varied from 0.2% to 8.4% of biochar C applied. These estimates are not yet corrected for the priming effect of biochar on ‘native’ soil C, but we expect it to be small because of the low C content of the soil (0.42% C). Biochar application did not change the initial (day zero) microbial-C in soil. On day 196, microbial-C in biochar- and non-amended soils was not significantly different. However, total bacterial and fungal counts on day 196 determined by the viable plate count method were significantly higher in most of the biochar-amended soils than in the non-amended soil. We will present preliminary estimates of mean turnover time of C in different biochars, determined by fitting the two-pool kinetic model to the cumulative CO2-C evolved over two years of incubation. Implications of biochar C turnover on greenhouse gas mitigation through its application to soil will be discussed. The importance of long term decomposition observations for obtaining reliable estimates of biochar mean turnover time will be highlighted.
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Influence of biochar on the availability of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn to maize (Zea mays L.) Tshewang Namgay (1), Balwant Singh (1), Bhupinderpal Singh (2) 1. Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 2. Forest Science Centre, NSW DPI, Post Box 100, Beecroft, NSW 2119 b.singh@usyd.edu.au Biochar is a product of thermally decomposed waste biomass via pyrolysis. It has gained attention due to its being biochemically recalcitrant in soils while improving soil properties. It is seen as an effective tool to mitigate climate change due to its potential to increase long term soil carbon pools and reduce greenhouse emissions. Biochar has high porosity and it lowers the bulk density of soils; negatively charged biochar surfaces and their progressive generation during oxidation are expected to improve cation exchange capacity. Numerous studies have shown that biochar increases crop productivity, but to our knowledge no research has evaluated the influence of soil biochar applications on availability of trace elements to plants. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of biochar on As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn uptake by maize (Zea mays L.). An activated wood biochar, synthesised at 550°C, was applied at three rates (0, 5 and 15 g kg-1) in factorial combination with three rates (0, 10 and 50 mg kg-1) of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn to a sandy soil (Orthic Tenosol). Polythene-lined pots were filled with air-dried soil (1kg), and fertiliser was applied to all pots at recommended rates. Six seeds were sown in each pot which were thinned to three on germination to obtain uniform plants. Shoots were harvested after 10 weeks of growth, and dry matter yield was recorded. The plant samples were digested in perchloric––nitric acid mixture and analysed for trace elements. The uptake of trace elements was calculated from the plant dry matter yield and trace element concentrations. Data on plant dry matter yield, and concentration and uptake of trace elements as affected by biochar will be presented.
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Biochar addition to soils: Implications for pesticide persistence and efficacy Rai S Kookana CSIRO Land and Water, PMB No. 2, Glen Osmond SA 5064 Australia Rai.Kookana@csiro.au Soil amendment with biochar is increasingly being recognised as an attractive practice. Furthermore, charcoal can be a significant component of soil organic matter in many soils from regions that experience frequent fires or receive input from partial combustion processes. For example, in some Australian soils, up to 40% of the total organic carbon has been found to consist of charcoal. Facilitated by wind and water movement, terrestrial biochar readily finds its way to marine or freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Our recent research has shown that charcoal has a strong affinity for pesticides and other organic compounds, depending on their nature and properties. Even when present as a small fraction of the total organic carbon pool, charcoal can largely govern the sorption-desorption behaviour of pesticides in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We also noted that certain types of biochar are effective in sequestration of pesticides and in reducing their bioavailability to organisms. To evaluate the potential reduction in plant uptake of pesticides from soil through charcoal amendment, we carried out an experiment by growing spring onion (Allium cepa) in a sandy soil. The charcoal was prepared by burning redgum (Eucalyptus spp) wood chips at 450ÂşC (BC450) and 850ÂşC (BC850) and was then incorporated into soil at varying amounts (0, 0.1, 0.5 and 1% by soil weight). Charcoal amendment not only stimulated the growth of spring onion (indicated by significantly higher biomass than the control soil), but also significantly reduced the bioavailability of the pesticides in soil, when amendments were >0.5%. The dissipation of both pesticides in soils decreased significantly with increasing amounts of biochar in the soil. Over 35 days, 86-88% of the pesticides were lost from the control soil, whereas only 51% of carbofuran and 44% of chlorpyrifos dissipated from the soil amended with 1.0% BC850. Despite greater persistence of the pesticide residues in biochar-amended soils, the plant uptake of pesticides decreased markedly with increasing biochar content of the soil. With 1% of BC850 soil amendment, the total plant residues for chlorpyrifos and carbofuran decreased to 10% and 25% of that in the control treatment, respectively. The BC850 char was particularly effective in reducing phytoavailability of both pesticides from soil. The strong affinity of biochars to sorb and sequester pesticide molecules, thus rendering them unavailable to biota, has potential implications for efficacy of pesticides and herbicides. The application rates of pesticides are sometimes based on the organic carbon content of soils. Given that biochar is particularly effective in rapid inactivation of pesticides, it is likely that higher rates of application of pesticides may be needed in soils amended with biochars. The long term fate and effects of pesticide residues sequestered in biochar is not clear. This aspect deserves further investigation in order to fully appreciate the implications of biochar application to soils. ď Ž
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Detailed analyses of 20-year-old biochar recovered from Bolivian lowland agricultural soils Nikolaus Foidl (1), SD Joseph (2), Paul Munroe (2), Y Lin (2), L Van Zwieten (3), Steve Kimber (3) 1. Venearth Group 2. School of Material Science and Engineering, University of NSW, NSW 2052 Australia 3. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar NSW 2477 Australia nikolaus33@yahoo.com Approximately 20 years ago, an area of some 800,000 ha forest in the lowlands of Bolivia, 160 km outside Santa Cruz, was cleared and converted to crop production. The leaves, twigs, bark and branches, covered in red earth, were stacked into rows 10 to 12 metres wide and, after several month of drying, were ignited. The short but intensive combustion period resulted in the production of ash, torrefied woody biomass, probably produced at temperatures below 250ÂşC, biochar, produced over a range of temperatures, and baked clayish soil. These products were then incorporated into the fields to a depth of approximately 20 cm. Over a period of 20 years, a number of different crops were planted on these soils (0-tillage). Application rates, edafic and foliar, to areas with added biochar and those with no biochar were the same. In 2007-08 a detailed program of sampling and analysis of the soils was undertaken. Detailed extraction of torrefied and carbon biomass from several areas (500 ha) indicated concentrations ranging from 136 t/ha to over 150 t/ha in a profile up to 50 cm deep. Soils with biochar and torrefied biomass show significant increases in the concentration of Ca, K, Na, Mn and minor improvements in CEC. Yield increases for maize grown in the soils with biochar were in the order of 250%, in soy 27%, in sunflower 39%, in wheat 37% and in sorghum around 180%. To try to understand why the application of torrefied and carbonised biomass resulted in improved productivity, detailed chemical and physical analysis of selected samples was undertaken using a range of spectroscopic, microscopic and chemical analytical techniques. It will be shown that the oxidation of the biochar surfaces and their reaction with minerals and soil biology resulted in the formation of organo-mineral complexes with similar morphology, chemical and agronomic properties to Terra Preta soils. It will be shown that root hairs from the plants penetrated these complexes to reduce energy required to adsorb nutrients and water. It will be hypothesised that the biochar enhances microbial growth which in turn assists in nutrient uptake. ď Ž
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A simple method for determining biochar condensation Ronald J Smernik, Anna V McBeath Soil and Land Systems, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Urrbrae 5064 SA, Australia ronald.smernik@adelaide.edu.au One of the challenges of biochar research is that biochar is not a single material, but a term that describes a wide range of different materials. By way of analogy, the term biochar is more like the general term ‘food’ than the specific description such as ‘a large Big Mac meal with a Diet Coke instead of a Coke’. One pretty much knows what one is getting with the latter, but the former could be chicken soup, fried egg, ham sandwich or wedding cake, none of which are terribly interchangeable. The same goes for biochar, and as a consequence it is difficult to draw general conclusions from specific studies on biochar, at least not unless you know what type of biochar was used. So how can you tell if a biochar is (metaphorically) chicken soup, fried egg, ham sandwich or wedding cake? As it stands, biochars are usually described in terms of the starting material (eg greenwaste, chicken manure, rice husk etc) and the production conditions (eg fast pyrolysis at 450°C). While it is true that many of the important properties of biochar will vary with these parameters, how does one compare the results for a greenwaste biochar produced at 450°C to those for a chicken manure biochar produced at 550°C? To do so one needs chemical analyses, but which ones? Elemental analyses are a good starting point: they can tell you how much ash there is and what it consists of. Elemental analyses also reveal the total nutrient content (but often not its availability). Elemental analyses may also reveal something about the composition of the organic fraction (C:N ratio, extent of charring), especially for low-ash biochars. However, elemental analysis is a pretty blunt instrument for characterising organic matter. Decades of research have identified nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) as perhaps the sharpest tool for characterising organic matter as diverse as fresh plant material, peat, soil organic matter, coal and kerogen. NMR is very good at differentiating biochar (virtually all aromatic) from other types of organic matter (which contains a range of different C types). However, standard NMR methods are not great at differentiating between different types of biochar (and neither is any other method I know). continued >
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A simple method for determining biochar condensation Ronald J Smernik Anna V McBeath
So what is it about biochar chemistry that we need to identify? Well, we think a key parameter is the degree of aromatic condensation or ‘graphiticness’. All biochar is mostly aromatic, consisting of extensive sheets of hexagonal arrays of carbon atoms (a bit like chicken wire), but as it is heated to higher temperatures, these sheets become bigger and purer. This changes its physical properties (eg its surface area increases) and we believe it also makes it more resistant to degradation (which is the key property of biochar). We have developed an easy method to measure the degree of aromatic condensation of biochar, and have used it to compare over two dozen biochars and natural field chars (from a recent bushfire). The results are interesting and in some cases surprising. I’d love to tell you what we found, but I’ve run out of space, so you’ll just have to come to find out.
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Development of a synthetic Terra Preta (STP): Characterisation and initial research findings CH Chia (1), SD Joseph (1), P Munroe (1), Y Lin (1), J Hook (2), A Shasha (2), L van Zwieten (3), S Kimber (3), A Cowie (4), Bhupinderpal Singh (4), J Lehmann (5), K Hanley (5), P Blackwell (6), E Carter (7), D Manning (8), C Philips, Elisa Lopez Capel 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
School of Material Science and Engineering, University of NSW, NSW 2052 NMR Facility, Analytical Centre, UNSW, Sydney 2052 NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar NSW 2477 NSW Department of Primary Industries, Sydney NSW 2000 Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853 USA 6. Department of Agriculture, Geraldton WA 7. Vibrational Spectroscopy Facility, School of Chemistry, University of Sydney, NSW 2006 8. School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Drummond Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU UK c.chia@unsw.edu.au Amazonian Dark Earths (Terra Preta) are unique soils that exhibit outstanding fertility by promoting and sustaining plant growth, as well as effectively sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide. They have high organic carbon content and are rich in the key elements, N, P, Mg, Zn, and Mn. They have higher water-holding capacity than the surrounding soil, higher pH, and greater cation exchange capacity (CEC) through which they sustain higher fertility compared to the intensely weathered, acidic and leached adjacent soils (Sombroek 1966; Lehmann et al 2001). Examination of Terra Preta soils has revealed that they are composed of microaggregates formed by the interaction of organic matter, clay particles, residual fired clay, sand, microorganisms and human input of decomposing/ cooked food. These microagglomerates comprise areas of high amorphous carbon surrounded by phases that are high in aluminium, silica, iron, calcium and phosphorus. Inspired by these extraordinary soils, an exploratory program aimed at producing materials mimicking the properties of the Terra Preta has now been completed. This synthetic Terra Preta (STP) is manufactured by combining biomass, clay, crushed brick, and high calcium and iron waste products and then heating at low temperatures (220240°C) in an oxidising environment. This process is known as torrefaction. Detailed chemical, physical and agronomic examination of these STPs shows that they have microstructure and characteristics similar to the microagglomerates found in Terra Preta soils , and parallel properties to biochar produced under cool fire conditions. Possible reasons for the similar structures, based on an understanding of the interaction of clays and soil biota and minerals, will be outlined. Pot and field trials of the STPs are reported in an accompanying paper. ď Ž
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Detailed characterisation of biochars obtained from New Zealand feedstocks at different pyrolysis temperatures William Aitkenhead (1), Jason Hindmarsh (2), Marta Camps-Arbestain (1), Mike Hedley (1) 1. New Zealand Biochar Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand 2. Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand waitkenhead@gmail.com Producing chars through the pyrolysis of biomass and incorporation into soils is proposed as a method for long term sequestration of carbon dioxide into soils (Swift 2001, Lal 2003, Lehmann et al 2006). The long term goals are the reduction of atmospheric CO2 concentration and slowing of global warming. Biochar has been reported to have beneficial effects on soil properties, increasing the water holding capacity in sandy soils (Rasool et al 2008), improving soil structure (Chan et al 2008), and enhancing the chemical fertility (Lehmann, 2007). Chars are already widely present in soils due to natural events (eg forest fires) (Skjemstad 1999) and anthropogenic processes (eg Amazonian Terra Preta soils). Interest in the production of commercial pyrolysis units has been expressed by several parties in New Zealand. These groups wish to create chars from a wide range of feedstocks, from grasses to sewage sludge. There is an urgent need for information about the characteristics of such chars before they are added to soil to increase soil carbon stocks and /or improve the chemical and physical properties of the soil. Studies have shown that chars vary according the type of feedstock and to slight adjustments in pyrolysis conditions. Changing the heating rate has been shown to affect the morphology of the char (Dall’Ora et al 2008). Heating to different temperatures influences the CEC and ash content of the char, the latter affecting the char’s liming ability. In this study we report the production of chars in a gas-fired rotating drum kiln from a range of feedstocks (sewage sludge, woods and crop residues) using two different pyrolysis heating regimes (final temperatures 400 and 550°C). Each char was analysed for yield, bulk density, lime equivalence, and elemental composition. The carbon chemistry of each char was studied using solid state 13C NMR using a combination of cross polarisation and direct polarisation coupled with magic angle spinning. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectra, using an ATR attachment, were also obtained for each char. The combination of these studies has provided a basis for relating the desired char properties to the feedstock type operating conditions of the pyrolysis kiln. Char chemical characteristics will also be used to explain the behaviour of these chars after incorporation into soils for agronomic experimentation. continued >
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References Swift R 2001. Sequestration of carbon by soil. Soil Science 166, 858-871 Lal R 2003. Global potential of soil carbon sequestration to mitigate the greenhouse effect. Critical Reviews in Plant Science 22, 155-184 Lehmann J, Gaunt J, Rondon M 2006. Biochar sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems – A review. Mitigation and adaption strategies for global change 11, 403-427 Rasool R, Kukal S, Hira G 2008. Soil organic carbon and physical properties as affected by long term application of FYM and inorganic fertilisers in maize–wheat system. Soil & Tillage Research 101, 31-36
Detailed characterisation of biochars obtained from New Zealand feedstocks at different pyrolysis temperatures William Aitkenhead, Jason Hindmarsh, Marta CampsArbestain, Mike Hedley
Chan K, Van Zweiten L, Meszaros I, Downie A, Joseph S 2008. Using poultry litter biochars as soil amendments. Australian Journal of Soil Research 46, 437-444 Lehmann J 2007. Bioenergy in the black. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 5, 381-387 Skjemstad JO, Taylor JA, Smernik RJ 1999. Estimation of charcoal (char) in soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 30, 2283-2298 Dall’Ora M, Jensen P, Jensen A 2008. Suspension combustion of wood: Influence of pyrolysis conditions on char yield, morphology, and reactivity. Energy & Fuels 22, 29552962
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Evaluation of laboratory procedures for the characterisation of biochars Balwant Singh (1), Bhupinderpal Singh (2), Annette L Cowie (2) 1. Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 2. Forest Science Centre, NSW Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 100 Beecroft NSW 2119 b.singh@usyd.edu.au There is considerable interest in using biochar as a soil amendment to improve soil fertility and increase carbon sequestration. Biochar can be produced from various organic waste materials including forestry residues, crop residues, paper sludge and poultry waste. The properties of biochar vary significantly depending on the organic waste and pyrolysis conditions such as temperature and activation treatment. Standard soil characterisation procedures can be applied to characterise biochar, but these procedures need to be optimised for this purpose. We determined chemical properties of 11 biochars using standard and modified laboratory procedures. The biochars used in the study were synthesised from bluegum wood and leaves, paper sludge, poultry manure on rice hulls, and cow manure, at different temperatures (400ÂşC or 550ÂşC) and activation level (activated or non-activated). The biochars were analysed for pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable cations, total C and N, total concentration of major and trace elements, surface functional groups, and some other properties. This study will highlight the differences in the properties of biochars as affected by the biomass sources and pyrolysis conditions, as well as the laboratory procedures employed for the analyses. The results will be used to make suggestions about appropriate procedures for the characterisation of biochars. ď Ž
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Temperature sensitivity of black carbon decomposition and oxidation Binh Thanh Nguyen (1), Johannes Lehmann (1), Stephen Joseph (2), Bill Hockaday (3) 1. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA 2. University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW, Australia 3. Department of Earth Science, Rice University, Houston TX USA CL273@cornell.edu Global warming accelerates decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC) with different rates and sensitivity, depending on the quality of the material. However little is known about the effect of increasing temperature on decomposition of black carbon (BC) materials with different structures and properties. Four BC materials produced by carbonising corn residue and oak wood at 350 and 600°C (corn-350-BC, corn-600-BC, oak-350-BC and oak-600-BC) were mixed with pure sand and incubated at 4, 10, 20, 30, 45 and 60°C for one year to investigate the effect of structure and temperature on decomposition. Corn-BC was more porous than oak-BC as determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Increased charring temperature led to better orientation of graphene layers as observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Decomposition increased rapidly with increased incubation temperature, and depended significantly on the type of BC. As temperature increased from 4 to 60°C, decomposition of corn-350BC increased from 10 to 20% of initial C content, corn-600-BC from 4 to 20%, oak-350BC from 2.3 to 15%, and oak-600-BC from 1.5 to 14%. Temperature sensitivity (Q10) decreased with increasing temperature and was highest in oak-600-BC, followed by oak350-BC, corn-600-BC and corn-350-BC, indicating that decomposition of more stable BC was more sensitive to increased temperature than less stable materials. Carbon loss and potential cation exchange capacity (CECp) correlated significantly with O/C ratios and change in O/C ratios, indicating that oxidative processes were the most important mechanism controlling BC decomposition in this study.
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Black carbon characterisation: Implications for understanding biochar behaviour in depositional environments Philippa Ascough (1), Michael Bird (2), William Meredith (3), Colin Snape (3) 1. AMS Laboratory, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, East Kilbride 2. Earth and Environmental Science, James Cook University, Queensland 3. SChEME, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK michael.bird@jcu.edu.au Although it is evident that a fraction of pyrolysed biomass is highly recalcitrant, and can survive for thousands of years in sediments or the dissolved organic carbon pool prior to its ultimate burial in the deep ocean, it is also clear that other components do undergo environmental degradation on comparatively short timescales, apparently as a function of both starting material and environmental conditions. Thus there are fundamental concerns about quantifying the stability of material such as biochar in a range of environments, and understanding the mechanisms by which alteration can occur in natural environments. Natural charcoal samples exposed to the environment for varying periods of 50 to 50,000 years show far greater overall susceptibility to oxidative degradation than freshly produced charcoal from both hard and softwood species. However, there is a wide range in the behaviour of 13 charcoal samples from a range of depositional environments, which appears strongly dependent on relative proportions of different carbon fractions within the materials. A key problem is that of reliably separating and quantifying these different labile and recalcitrant components in carbonaceous samples, in order to answer the concerns outlined above.
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A new approach which holds great promise in this regard is hydropyrolysis (hypy), in which pyrolysis assisted by high hydrogen pressures (>10 MPa) facilitates reductive removal of labile organic matter. Hypy has been demonstrated to reliably separate functionally different carbonaceous sample components for engineering and geological applications, but its potential in biogeochemical applications remains unexplored. Here, we present results concerning the potential of hypy to quantify and isolate different carbon fractions within a variety of sample types, including ancient charcoals from deposits of geological and archaeological significance. The results presented show that it is possible to identify a set of conditions for hypy analysis under which lignocellulosic and other easily convertible organic carbon material (eg lipids, proteins) are fully removed, but degradation of the resistant black carbon (BC) component of the sample has not yet commenced. Operating conditions for up to 100% conversion to volatile products and quantification of BC content (c.5000C) are consistent with other hypy studies for lignocellulosic material. In addition, hypy appears to provide an effective means of removing trace contamination from samples for age determination close to the 14C dating limit and allows retention of the non-BC component of a sample, which may then be subject to further analysis and measurement. This suggests that hypy represents a promising new approach not only for BC quantification as an end in itself, but also for 14C dating where purified BC is the target material for dating. ď Ž
Retention capacity of three types of biochar for estrogenic steroid hormones in dairy farm soil Prakash Srinivasan (1,2), Ajit K Sarmah (1), Merilyn Manley-Harris (2), Michael J Antal Jr (3), Doug Stewart (4), Adriana Downie (5), Lukas Van Zwieten (6) 1. Soil Chemical & Biological Interactions, Landcare Research, Private Bag 3127, Hamilton New Zealand 2. Chemistry Department, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton New Zealand 3. Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu HI 96822 4. Lakeland Steel Products Ltd. 3 Davis Street, PO Box 1976, Rotorua 3040 New Zealand 5. Best Energies Australia Pty Ltd. 56 Gindurra Road, Somersby NSW 2250 Australia 6. NSW Department of Primary Industries, 1243 Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar NSW 2477 Australia sarmaha@landcareresearch.co.nz Estrogenic steroid hormones are naturally occurring compounds produced by humans and mammals of all species. Apart from their normal regulatory functions, steroid hormones are also capable of disrupting the endocrine system and related developmental processes in wildlife. New Zealand has a rapidly expanding dairy industry and established beef, sheep, pig and poultry production, with the livestock population excreting 40 times more waste than that produced by the total human population. Given the increased land application of effluents, coupled with direct excretal input by the grazing animals, there is a heightened concern among regulatory bodies and industry to understand the fate of effluent-related steroid hormones and the associated risk to the environment. Development of effective remediation techniques for land contaminated with these compounds will help reduce the risk that the compounds pose to the receiving environment. There has been a growing interest in recent years in the potential of biochar for carbon sequestration, reduction in nutrient leaching, maintenance of soil health and other environmental and agronomic benefits, although research into such uses is still in its infancy. Biochar can comprise 60-80% of black carbon, and due to its high surface area, potential exists for this material to be used as an effective remediation tool (eg biochar-bed filtration system) to remove contaminants associated with animal waste effluent. The potential of various types of biochar for such remediation has not yet been investigated. In this preliminary study, we examined three types of biochar (corn cob, pine sawdust and greenwaste) and their ability to retain an estrogenic steroid hormone (estradiol), and its primary metabolite (estrone) using a representative dairy farm soil from New Zealand. This poster presents: â&#x20AC;˘ findings of the preliminary biochar characterisation data â&#x20AC;˘ initial results of the laboratory batch sorption studies using a simple massbalance approach and a complex solvent extraction scheme to derive partitioning coefficients for these hormones in biochar-amended farm soil. ď Ž
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Simulating the weathering of biochar with a Soxhlet reactor FX Yao (1,2), S Virgel (1), F Macías (3), J Arostegui (4), M Camps-Arbestain (1,5) 1. NEIKER, Berreaga 1, Derio 48160, Spain 2. Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, East Beijing Street 71, Nanjing 210008 PR China 3. Departamento de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Facultad de Biología, USC, Santiago de Compostela15782 Spain 4. Depto de Mineralogía y Petrología, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Leioa-48080, UPV Spain 5. Soil and Earth Sciences, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Palmerston North New Zealand fyao@neiker.net
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Biochar consists of a biomass-derived black carbon (BC) obtained by low temperature pyrolysis. Black carbon has been postulated to make a significant contribution to recalcitrant organic carbon (C) in soils and sediments and consequently to play an important role in global C cycling (Lehmann et al 2008). Much interest has focused on the potential for the addition of biochar to soils to provide a large C sink and enhance soil properties (Lehmann, 2007). However, when biochar is applied to soil, it will weather to some degree, no matter how recalcitrant it is. As the weathering proceeds, characteristics of biochar such as pH, CEC, nutrient content, reactive surface, C sequestration potential and even morphology, may change over time. Moreover, compounds released from the weathering of biochar may have as yet unknown impacts on the environment. In order to investigate the long term behaviour of biochar, a modified Soxhlet extractor was used to accelerate the weathering of biochar with aqueous solutions. Soxhlet experiments were previously used by Pédro (1961) to study the geochemical weathering of rocks. Recently, a modified reactor has been used to study the long term release of compounds from solidified/stabilised wastes (Humez et al 1997, Humez and Prost 1999, Badreddine et al 2004). In the present study, the reactor was further modified to maintain the leaching water temperature at around 30°C. The flow rate of water was controlled to approximately one drop every two seconds. The biochar used in the study was produced from sewage sludge at 550ºC in a gas-fired rotating kiln (char provided by P Bishop and M Hedley, Massey University). One reactor cartridge of the Soxhlet reactor was filled with biochar only, while the other cartridge was filled with a mixture of biochar and humic acid (20:1 wt:wt basis). The kinetics of element release were studied during the 300 h-period of weathering. Changes in the crystalline fraction of the solid phase were assessed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) monitored the morphological transformations. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was carried out for elemental analysis and chemical characterisation of the samples. Here we will describe the chemistry of the leachates during the weathering of biochar and the transformations that may arise within the solid phase.
Simulating the weathering of biochar with a Soxhlet reactor References Badreddine R, Humez AN, Mingelgrin U, Benchare A, Meducin F, Prost R 2004. Retention of trace metals by solidified/stabilised wastes: Assessment of long term metal release. Environ. Sci. Technol. 38, 1383-1398.
FX Yao, S Virgel, F Macías, J Arostegui, M Camps-Arbestain
Humez N, Prost R 1999. A new experimental approach to study the long term behaviour of solidified/stabilised wastes. Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability 11, 1-24. Humez N, Humez AL, Juste C, Prost R 1997. A new assessment of mobility of elements in sediments and wastes. Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability 9, 57-65. Lehmann J 2007. A handful of carbon. Nature 447, 143-144. Lehmann J, Skjemstad J, Sohi S, Carter J, Barson M, Falloon P, Coleman K, Woodbury P, Krull E 2008. Australian climate-carbon cycle feedback reduced by soil black carbon. Geoscience. Doi: 10.1038/ngeo358. Pédro G 1961. An experimental study on the geochemical weathering of crystalline rocks by water. Clay Minerals Bull 4, 266-281.
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Characterisation of chars produced from different carbonisation processes AB Fuertes (1), M Sevilla (1), W Aitkenhead (2), JA Macia Agulló (1), S Fiol (3), R López (3), F Macías (4), F Arce (3), M Camps-Arbestain (2) 1. Instituto Nacional del Carbón (CSIC), Apartado 73, 33080-Oviedo Spain 2. New Zealand Biochar Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North New Zealand 3. Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Química, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782-Santiago de Compostela Spain 4. Departamento de Edadología y Química Agricola, Facultad de Biologia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782-Santiago de Compostela Spain M.Camps@massey.ac.nz The conversion of biomass (short term biodegradable C) into a more durable form (eg black carbon) is considered an important method of withdrawing CO2 from the atmosphere and has generated a great deal of interest within the framework of global climate change. A lot of the attention is currently being paid to obtaining black carbon from slow-pyrolysis processes, with the final aim of adding it to soils as a C sink and soil amendment. In this context, the charred material is denoted biochar. Conversion of biomass into a carbonised material can also be achieved though hydrothermal carbonisation of biomass, the final solid product of this process being termed hydrochar. While the pyrolysis is based on the carbonisation of dried feedstocks under O2 free conditions, the hydrothermal carbonisation produces char by applying high pressure to a feedstock mixed with a certain volume of water. In this study, we characterised different biochars and hydrochars produced by the two processes. The feedstocks used for biochar production were eucalyptus and corn stover. These were pyrolysed using a gas-fired rotating drum kiln at 550°C. The feedstocks used for hydrochar production were eucalyptus sawdust and barley straw. These were autoclaved at 250°C and 40 atm of pressure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microphotographs, FT-IR, Raman, X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and solid state 13C NMR spectra were obtained for each char. Elemental composition, cation exchange capacity, content of acid groups (mainly carboxylic and phenolic groups), porosity, yield and bulk density were also determined. The characterisation of the different chars is currently being evaluated with the aim of having an in-depth knowledge of their properties and their suitability as soil amendments.
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A fundamental understanding of biochar: Implications and opportunities for the grains industry Lynne M Macdonald (1), Daniel V Murphy (2), Evelyn S Krull (1) 1. CSIRO Land & Water, PMB 2, Glen Osmond SA 5064 2. University of Western Australia, School of Earth & Geographical Sciences, Crawley WA 6009 Lynne.Macdonald@csiro.au Although biochar-carbon is largely unavailable to biological degradation, it has a strong physico-chemical impact on the microbial habitat. Since soil microbial processes underpin many key ecosystem functions, there is a need to improve our mechanistic understanding of how biochar application to soil influences microbial community structure and function. We explore key biological issues including: • meta-genomic and NanoSIMS approaches to assess functionally-significant microorganisms and their spatial distribution in biochar amended soil • energy flow and nutrient fate via altered bacterial and fungal ratios • improved functional resilience through providing a protective micro-habitat. This GRDC project will address these issues across a range of biochar and soil types. The work will help to clarify the mechanisms by which biochar application alters soil functioning, and where biochar application can contribute most significantly to sustainable agricultural management.
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Carbonisation of empty palm oil fruit bunches using the hydrothermal method Nsamba Hussein Kisiki Universiti Putra, Malaysia Nsambahussein2000@yahoo.com Disposal of empty fruit bunches (EFB) that remain after oil palm fruits are removed at processing plants is an important problem in the palm oil industry. More than 8 million tonnes of EFB are generated annually in Malaysia and Indonesia. Parts of the bunches are used for boiler fuel and fertiliser, and the rest is waste, resulting in the loss of valuable potential energy. We have investigated the use of EFB as a fuel. To produce charcoal, EFB was treated under hydrothermal condition at 423-623 K without a catalyst, and then compared with charcoal carbonised under dry nitrogen conditions. The charcoal yields were 31.4% under hydrothermal conditions at 573K and 27.8% under dry conditions at 873K, respectively. The carbon content of charcoal was almost equal value: 573K produced under hydrothermal conditions, and 873K under dry conditions. The heating value of charcoal obtained from hydrothermal conditions at 573K was high (25.8MJ/kg), compared with that obtained from dry conditions at 873K (22.0MJ/kg) so it is suitable as an energy feedstock. The studies clarified that hydrothermal conditions promoted carbonisation of EFB at low temperatures. ď Ž
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Production of charcoal compost from organic solid waste Gustan Pari (1), Abdul Gani (2) 1. Forest Products Research and Development Center, Bogor-Indonesia 2. Syiah Kuala University, Aceh-Indonesia gustanp@yahoo.com Concerns about increasing levels of atmospheric carbon and the consequences for global warming have prompted attempts to sequester carbon. Several authors have recommended charcoal as a potential carbon sink. Charcoal manufacture requires woody biomass, and abundant wood wastes are generated from logging and wood industry activity, together with organic solid waste. These wastes decompose naturally, or are burnt and emit CO2. If they are carbonised and stored, for example, in soil under forest plantations, carbon is sequestered and waste managed productively. This paper discusses the carbon sink potential of charcoal and wood vinegar produced from organic solid waste and compost produced from soft organic waste. The charcoal was produced in a drum retort with condenser system to collect wood vinegar at temperatures of 350-510ÂşC. The soft organic waste was converted into compost by biodecomposers. The charcoal compost from organic waste was used for fertiliser in a plantation of Gynura pseudochina. The yield of charcoal was 21-41% (w/w) with a moisture content 2.5-4.3%, ash content 12-18%, volatile matter 18-31%, and fixed carbon 56-69%. The yield of wood vinegar was 30-38% (w/w), with 0.0082-0.022% phenol, and pH of 3.8-4.8. The major component of the wood vinegar was 1,1 di methyl hidrazin, 2,6 dimethoxy phenol. Total biomass of G. pseudochina increased from 89 to 233 g after 90 days. ď Ž
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Assessment of yield, salt tolerance and energy conversion of Arundo donax, a potential biochar and biofuel crop Chris M Williams (1), Tapas K Biswas (1), Adriana Downie (2), Prof Peter Rogers (3) 1. SARDI, Waite Research Precinct, GPO Box 397 Adelaide SA 5001 Australia 2. BEST Energies Australia, Somersby NSW Australia 3. University of NSW, Sydney Australia williams.chrism@saugov.sa.gov.au Recent study by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and partners has shown that the perennial rhizomatous grass Arundo donax produced 45 t/ha of above ground oven-dry biomass in its first year of growth on saline land with saline winery wastewater (2-9 dS/m), near Barmera, South Australia. Twenty-one tonnes of this biomass was carbon, sequestered by photosynthesis. We classed Arundo donax as a halophyte because of its tolerance to the high saline environment of up to 25 dS/m. BEST Energies conducted trials on the Arundo donax biomass and found it suitable for conversion to biochar and green energy via their proprietary slow pyrolysis process. Pyrolysis processing to achieve a 30% biochar yield (dry basis) resulted in 52% of energy in the 19MJ/kg feedstock being liberated as a syngas, which is suitable for generating thermal or electrical energy. The carbon : hydrogen ratio was increased from 8.2 in the biomass to 29.4 in the resultant biochar, with a respective increase in fixed carbon content from 20 to 74%, indicating a significant increase in the aromaticity and, hence, stability of the material. Initial laboratory scale tests at UNSW estimated that a dry tonne of Arundo donax should yield 250 litres of ethanol, based on 65% cellulose and hemicellulose in the Barmera biomass sample, and an initial 65% sugar recovery to ferment to ethanol. Further work is in progress to apply improved acid and alkali pre-treatment and better use of enzymes to increase the recovery of sugars to 85%, to obtain an estimated yield of ethanol of some 330 litres per dry tonne of Arundo donax. Lignin-based residues from ethanol ferments can be used for biochar production. Our preliminary study indicated that Arundo donax has good potential to be grown as a feedstock for biochar and biofuels on marginal lands in non-floodplain zones using saline and/or wastewaters. ď Ž
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A simple method for production of porous bamboo charcoal Gou Yamamoto (1), Tsuyoshi Hirowaka (2) 1. Organic farmer, Gaia System Co Ltd, Shizuoka Japan 2. International Charcoal Cooperative Association, Tokyo Japan hrwk_arang@yahoo.co.jp Bamboo grows very fast. Within two months, it reaches 20 metres height and is fully grown after three years. It sprouts every year and the shoots are harvested for food. The canes can be used to produce porous bamboo charcoal (PBC). PBC is produced as powder or particles and is soft, alkaline and highly absorbent. Compared to wood charcoal, it contains more minerals, less tar and no harmful ingredients. Production costs are 80% less than traditional kiln production. Method of production Tools: Shovel, hoe, tin plate 270cm x 90cm, 500 litres of water. 1. Fell the bamboo, cut it into 3-4m lengths and leave until the leaves have dried 2. Clear a 10m x 10m area, lay the tin plate on the ground and cover it with branches of bamboo and dry canes. Use the branches to build the fire until it is burning well, and then throw on branches and canes alternately in a same direction until the fire is burning slowly. 3. Draw out the live coals and spread them to cool down. If water is available, use it to extinguish the coals. If they are not properly charred, throw them into the fire again. 4. Repeat these steps until all the bamboo is charred. One person can produce 160kg of PBC in half a day. 5. Leave the PBC to dry well. When it is dry and light, store it in the warehouse. Application PBC can be applied directly to farmland (2t/ha) and bamboo forests (5t/ha). For bamboo shoots, higher yields are realised after the third year. I also use PBC for my bokashi fertiliser. Bokashi is a kind of compost made of organic material and usually needs hard work to turn it over. When I mix it with PBC, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to turn it over to get better quality bokashi. PBC is very useful for organic farmers. ď Ž
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Preparation of low volatile charcoal for liquid steel recarburisation plant trials Michael Somerville (1), John Mathieson (2), Phil Ridgeway (3), Sharif Jahanshahi (1) 1. CSIRO Australia 2. BlueScope Steel, Australia 3. OneSteel, Australia Michael.Somerville@csiro.au This paper summarises the processes used to produce three tonnes of low volatile charcoal suitable for plant trials of the recarburisation of molten steel. The relatively large tonnage of material required for the trials coupled with the requirement of a very low volatile content created a number of problems for the project participants. The paper outlines the equipment and processes used and the problems which were overcome before a satisfactory charcoal product was produced. The stages covered include: • • • •
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sourcing and handling of the wood charcoal production using beehive coke ovens charcoal characterisation charcoal handling, drying and bagging.
Maximising char yield from pyrolysis of low cost biomass Rex and Daniel Manderson Chaotech Pty Ltd, Australia Rexm@chaotech.com.au Chaotech Pty Ltd has been working to produce a pilot plant for the production of char from biomass waste. From the beginning we have made the maximising of the char yield the objective of the development project. In this paper we describe the process identified from our analysis of published work and how that has been developed into a continuous production plant. Only char with a carbon content above 75% was accepted. To establish a base line for testing our process and equipment modules we have used only one sawdust source. This material from a local furniture manufacturer is predominantly Australian hoop pine. We discuss the implications of the process for the application to scale-up plants. The applicability of the plant design to alternative biomass sources is discussed. ď Ž
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OpenChar: Open-sourced biochar production technology Andrew Murphy (1), Lizzie Brown (2) 1. Hatch Consulting, Brisbane 2. Engineers Without Borders, Brisbane AMurphy@hatch.com.au The sequestration of carbon in agricultural soils in the form of charcoal has been recognised as a cornerstone technology in the drive to halt and reverse the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s atmosphere. Due to the distributed nature of biomass, the intended application, and the potential synergies from operating a pyrolysis facility, the most advantageous pathway to implement the technology is at the scale of individual farms. The key barriers to implementation at this scale are the capital cost and operating know-how of the pyrolysis technology. The Hatch-EWB OpenChar Initiative aims to eliminate these as barriers to adoption of the process. With the primary focus of profit potential put to one side, the extraordinary potential of biomass pyrolysis and biochar application to soils will be unleashed. Initiated by Hatch and in partnership with Engineers Without Borders, a not-for-profit organisation that connects engineers with social development projects, the OpenChar Initiative will allow engineers and other interested participants to collaborate in developing technologies that enable implementation of biochar at a range of scales and in a range of circumstances. All technologies developed and experience gained will be open-sourced and available for anyone in the world to access, with the only proviso being that all lessons-learnt are provided back to the OpenChar community. Through this open and collaborative process, the Initiative aims to provide simple and low cost designs that can be implemented on a distributed basis. As a consequence, the Initiative will also provide a vehicle for young engineers to develop new skills while contributing to a project with numerous social benefits. The OpenChar Initiative will exist as an open-source web site that will allow any interested person to contribute by submitting designs, modifying designs, solving problems, contributing case histories, providing practical guidance and operational knowledge, etc. Open sourcing is an emerging field and is demonstrating substantial success particularly with design initiatives typified by the examples of Innocentive.com, Asknature.org and Instructables.com. Biochar is a technology with such enormous potential to address a problem that needs such immediate action that anything that can be done to accelerate its acceptance needs to be pursued. The Hatch-EWB OpenChar Initiative is proposed as a vehicle to drive its adoption. ď Ž
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Project 540: Low-emission, low cost biochar kilns for small farms and villages Geoff Moxham, Paul Taylor, Peter Gibson, John Seed Rainforest Information Centre, Lismore NSW potaylor@bigpond.com Half the world’s population uses biomass for cooking, much of it charcoal. As a fuel source charcoal has an exaggerated impact on global warming, even more than direct biomass use, because of the inefficiencies of low-tech pyrolysis (less than 25% of biomass energy retained in the charcoal), the greenhouse potency of emitted methane, often-used clear felling, and transport. Yet the charcoal cycle could produce net carbon capture if more efficient pyrolysis of local waste biomass was achieved, along with the use of emitted wood gas as fuel for cooking, heating and electricity generation, and with application of the char to the soil for soil fertility and C sequestration. Additionally, much small farm and property woody waste could be pyrolysed to biochar for sequestration if affordable, easy to construct biochar kilns could make the process nonpolluting and economical. Project 540’s focus is on proving that emissions from small biochar kilns can be controlled to best practice standards, while still using easy designs, accessible materials, simple cues for emissions checking, and basic instrumentation. The intention is to correlate emissions-related settings and cues, such as air control devices and visual assessment of exhaust gases, with hard results of emission measurements from CO, hydrocarbons and temperature monitors. The project is building and intensively testing a series of small kilns, labelled the Phoenix Series. Phoenix-1 and Phoenix-2 are biochar mini-kilns integrated with space-heating, hot bath or other devices to productively use the waste heat. These are from 20 up to 60 litres capacity, cold-loaded with 20 litres Folke Guenther inverted drums. The project intends to scale devices to provide at least three litres of char/person/day, while providing C-negative process heat and hot water. Both P-1 and P-2 are being used in preparation and proving of the 1000 litre Phoenix-3 design elements, and are also a source of various char samples sent to Wollongbar DPI, under Lukas Van Zwieten, for characterising. The operation of the large P-3 kiln will include extensive data logging, and air control, allowing kiln temperatures to be controlled at 700ºC at the kiln ceiling, 500ºC at the pyrolysis vessel core, with a one hour soak, and a total residence time of about 2½ hours. The height and efficiency of the chimney-stack will be a prime focus, to make use of natural vortex and venturi effects, thus obviating the parasitic power costs of fan-forced air. Pre-heated air is supplied by tuyeres to the combustion zone. A ‘bourrey-box’ afterburner fuelled with charcoal is used for complete combustion, in excess air at >800ºC, of the start-up smoke. continued >
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Project 540: Lowemission, low cost biochar kilns for small farms and villages Geoff Moxham, Paul Taylor, Peter Gibson, John Seed
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Pending further grants, a series of innovative ring kilns will be constructed to allow continuous manual batch operation, and high efficiency, in a planar version of the ‘climbing’ or Naborigama community pottery kiln. Project 540 is funded by environment grants from Artists for Planet earth-UK, Rainforest Information Centre, Lismore NSW, and Australian Tropical Research Station, Daintree Qld. The project results are committed to the Creative Commons public domain, and a Small Kilns Wiki has been set up at carbonforlife.com, to act as an information and development node for small userproducer kiln makers around the planet.
Maximising environmental and economic benefits of biochar production using an innovative indirectly-fired kiln technology Dongke Zhang (1), Danny Griffin (2), Matthew Martella (2), Michael Martella (2) 1. Centre for Petroleum, Fuels and Energy, School of Mechanical Engineering (M050), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley WA 2. ANSAC Pty Ltd, Bunbury WA Dongke.Zhang@uwa.edu.au This contribution presents an innovative and cost-effective kiln technology for biofuels and biochar production and reports the results of a series of pilot-scale plant trials of biochar production using a variety of biomass feedstocks. The author, in collaboration with ANSAC Pty Ltd, has conducted a preliminary scoping study to integrate renewable bioenergy production into mine land rehabilitation. At the centre of this strategy is an indirectly-fired kiln process in which dry biomass, along with appropriate catalyst if required, is fed into the inner kiln tube. Here it is heated to undergo a pyrolysis process to break the biomass into biochar and volatile matter with easy and effective atmosphere control to maintain an inert pyrolysis condition. Heat for the pyrolysis is provided by combustion of the volatile matter and a supplementary fuel (natural gas or LPG) in the combustion chamber between the inner kiln tube and an outer shell. Since the atmosphere is strictly controlled, the quality and yield of biochar depend only on the kiln operating temperature and solid mixing characteristics and retention time in the kiln. The kiln temperature is controlled by the firing rate and flame dynamics of the fuel and volatile matter from the pyrolysis process. Enhanced solid mixing is achieved by the installation of lifters within the kiln and the solid retention time can be adjusted by varying the rotation speed of the inner kiln tube. The process offers sufficient freedom of operation to allow the pyrolysis to be optimised for a given feedstock. Laboratory experimentation and pilot-scale plant trials with various biomass feedstocks (sawdust, straw, and woodchips) as well as sand and glass beads have been undertaken. Correlations of sophisticated temperature measurements and biochar quality have enabled the mechanisms of the pyrolysis and biochar formation process in the kiln to be understood, which sheds further light on the future development of this technology. This technology allows independent control of the solid retention time and the process gas residence time in the kiln, so its applications in small-scale char activation and waste gasification operating at higher temperatures offer both environmental and economic advantages. ď Ž
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Maximising environmental and economic benefits of biochar production using an innovative indirectly-fired kiln technology Dongke Zhang, Danny Griffin, Matthew Martella, Michael Martella
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The carbon abatement potential and sustainability credentials of Project Rainbow Bee Eater Dr Joe Herbertson Crucible Carbon Pty Ltd, PO Box 183, Mayfield NSW 2304 Joe.Herbertson@thecrucible.com.au Project Rainbow Bee Eater in the Western Australian wheat belt is arguably the most ambitious biochar project under commercial development in the world at the moment. The project is described in another presentation at this conference; here we provide a lifecycle evaluation of the carbon abatement potential of the project, in which agricultural residues (straw) and synergistic woody crops (mallee) are converted by pyrolysis to biochar (returned to the soil) and renewable energy (electricity in the base case). The analysis confirms the importance of process efficiency in maximising the level of net achievable abatement. For the adopted technology, efficiency is high since green biomass can be processed directly without prior drying, process heat is generated internally and there is full utilisation of the biogas and bioliquids produced along with the char. In these circumstances the net carbon abatement of the process is at least 1.5 t CO2 per tonne of biomass feed (on a dry weight basis). The fixed carbon within the biochar returned to the soil is an effective, long lasting, value adding and easily quantifiable method of carbon capture and storage. The importance of having this recognised within the emerging emissions trading scheme in Australia is discussed. The presentation also presents a review of the wider sustainability dimensions of Project Rainbow Bee Eater, in relationship to ‘food versus fuel’ issues, system benefits for wheat farming, nutrient recycling, soil quality, water impacts and regional employment. This review shows that the project not only makes sustainable use of land and biomass resources, it will have significant regenerative benefits in the region.
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Agro-economic valuation of biochar using field-derived data Lukas Van Zwieten (1), Steve Kimber (1), Leanne Orr (2), Steve Morris (1), Adriana Downie (3,4), Katrina Sinclair (1), Stephen Joseph (3), K. Yin Chan (5) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar NSW 2477 Australia NSW Department of Primary Industries, Forest Road, Orange NSW 2800 BEST Energies, Somersby NSW 2250 Australia School of Material Science and Engineering, University of NSW, NSW 2052 Australia NSW Department of Primary Industries, Richmond NSW 2753 Australia
lukas.van.zwieten@dpi.nsw.gov.au Scientific data on the agronomic benefits of biochar allows for economic evaluation of its value using a range of methodologies. This is an industry-enabling analysis allowing justification of the economic models of potential pyrolysis projects. A number of replicated long term field trials were established in a subtropical environment on the far north coast of NSW (29°S, 153°E) Australia. Trials are on an acidic red Ferrosol with low nutrient availability. In December 2007 biochar derived from poultry litter was incorporated into soil at rates of 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50t/ha and planted with sweetcorn in replicated (n=4) plots. Agronomic parameters, including soil chemical and biological characteristics, were measured so that changes could be observed. Emissions of greenhouse gases from the soil surface were also tested using a static chamber technique. The nil treatment plot yielded 16t corn cob/ha while the 10 and 50 t poultry litter biochar/ha achieved 25 and 35 t cob /ha, respectively. Similarly improved yields were obtained in the following faba bean crop, planted May 2008. Changes in soil chemistry included a reduction in soil acidity, and an increase in soil N, P, CEC and C. This was an immediate response to the biochar treatments which was sustained over the two cropping seasons. In an adjacent field trial with sweetcorn, papermill biochar and poultry litter biochar (both at 10t/ha) were tested in a randomised design (n=3) with controls including nil treatment, lime at 3t/ha, and commercial compost at 25t/ha. All treatments were repeated with and without luxury-rate fertiliser application. The highest yields were observed where biochars were added with fertiliser. However, poultry litter biochar alone outperformed luxury-rate fertiliser treatment, lime amendment and compost amendment. These plots were sown to faba bean (May 2008) and back to sweetcorn December 2008, with no additional biochar application. This paper will describe the field trials in detail and include methods for application of the biochar to soil in the different farming systems. An economic value of biochar amendment will be presented using two methodologies: • chemical composition of the biochars • gross margin analysis with sensitivity calculations.
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Biochar: A people initiative Krushnun Venkat BioSol a v, Chennai India krushnunv@yahoo.com Biochar will find agricultural usage when field-produced biochar is standardised and blended with nutrients as an agricultural input. India produces around 50-100 million t/year of agricultural residues, leaf litter and biotrash that can be used to make biochar. The biochar industry can operate at two levels: one investment-based and the other people-based. An industrial scale biochar plant will produce high carbon biochar from standardised inputs (eg rice husk) and power, so will be a zero waste initiative. The payback period of such a plant is less than three years. At the village level, leaf litter and bio trash can be converted into biochar with low capital investment (eg A$100 per kiln) to produce non-standard biochar of around 30 kg per day per field kiln. Larger field kilns producing up to 100 kg output per day are also known. Both kiln types are available in India. The field kilns could supply non-standard leaf litter biochar to the industrial plants at commercial rates for blending to standardise carbon levels. This material could then be added to biofertilisers such as castor/jatropa cake or chemical fertilisers to produce a pelletised product that could partially replace existing fertiliser usage. Complex fertilisers could also be produced with biochar for slow release to establish the first footprints for biochar in India via a known market for NPK. The symbiotic relationship between the industrial plant and the field kilns will popularise biochar usage, as supporting biochar means increasing income for farmers. This will lead to a large acreage of trial plots for biochar based on which a national biochar initiative can take off. India can then avoid over-reliance on monsoons for its food supply by moving into irrigated land fully for its food based on biochar-driven abundant productivity. Power production will qualify for carbon emission reduction (CER) under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Pyrolysis of leaf litter may entitle field biochar production to CER as well, as the quantity of carbon from litter can be verified. My paper contains more details on the cost-benefit analysis of biochar proposals, and also looks at Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fertiliser usage patterns and laws. ď Ž
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Development of sustainable fuels and reductants for the iron and steel industry Michael Somerville (1), John Mathieson (2), Phil Ridgeway (3), Sharif Jahanshahi (1) 1. CSIRO Australia 2. BlueScope Steel, Australia 3. OneSteel, Australia Michael.Somerville@csiro.au The Australian iron and steel industry in cooperation with CSIRO and CSRP ( Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing) has initiated a long term project on the utilisation of biomass in the iron and steel making process. The industry, represented by BlueScope Steel and One Steel, envisages major reductions in CO2 emissions through the substitution of sustainable charcoal derived from biomass for fossil based coal and coke. This paper outlines the approach used by the research participants to facilitate the use of charcoal in the iron and steel making process. The paper outlines different components of the project including: • • • •
Identification of opportunities for charcoal utilisation Estimation of biomass resources available for industrial applications Pyrolysis technologies suitable for the iron and steel industry Defining charcoal quality suitable for particular applications.
Future research directions in the project will also be outlined.
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Charcoal use in agriculture in Japan Makoto Ogawa Osaka Institute of Technology makoto-ogawa@mvg.biglobe.ne.jp Intensive agriculture has been practised in Asian countries since ancient times because of high population densities, limited arable areas, and rice cultivation. All kinds of organic wastes, including human and livestock excreta, straw, leaf litter, grass, sewage and rice husk charcoal have been used as fertilisers and soil amendments in agriculture, gardening and revegetation. Wood ash containing cinders was an important material for soil amendment and mineral supply. In Japan, forest resources, firewood and charcoal were the most important energy sources until the 20th century, with charcoal production reaching 2.7 million t/year in 1947. It has been estimated that 10 million tonnes of wood, mainly broad-leaved trees, was carbonised by traditional kilns at that time. With increased use of imported fossil fuels in the 1960s, use of charcoal dwindled to 30,000 t/year by the 1980s but in the 1970s scientists began promoting its production and use, and in 1986 a technical group was established to study carbonisation technology, soil amendment in agriculture and revegetation, activation of microorganisms and water purification. In 1990 the research results were published and widely distributed, and charcoal and wood vinegar were authorised for soil amendment by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery. Rice husk charcoal Rice husk charcoal is a common soil amendment in Asian countries. Dried rice husks are carbonised automatically and continuously in self-fuelled kilns, with extra heat used for small scale power generation. Research since the 1980s has found that it can enhance formation of arbuscular mycorrhiza and root nodules and increase the rate of nitrogen fixation; increase plant biomass, root biomass, and crop yields; improve soil porosity, water holding capacity, pH and cation exchange capacity; and absorb pesticides and herbicides. Wood and bark charcoal Trials using bark charcoal powder and chemical fertiliser showed increased mycorrhiza formation in pinetrees and increased arbuscular mycorrhiza and root nodule formations in soybeans. Yields indicated that chemical fertiliser could be reduced to 5% if charcoal was also applied, due to growth of roots and symbiotic microorganisms. Charcoal carbonised under high temperature is usually alkaline and porous with no substrate for saprophytic microorganisms. When added to soil, however, plant roots grow towards it and microorganisms that can endure high alkalinity propagate in and around it. Other research has found that while wood charcoal improves soil properties, plants respond more when the charcoal is mixed with chemical fertilisers, zeolite, wood vinegar and organic fertiliser. continued >
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Charcoal use in agriculture in Japan Makoto Ogawa There are noticeable differences in plant growth between white and black charcoal. In general, white charcoal with fine pores and high pH is suitable for immobilisation of bacteria, while black charcoal is more suitable for fungi formation. Trials have found that finer-pored oak charcoal is more suitable than pine for immobilising bacteria, and coconut shell charcoal inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhiza suppressed infection by the soil-borne pathogen Fusarium spp. Charcoal compost Making compost from litter and excretions has been common in Japan for a long time. In the 1980s, charcoal compost was made from fresh chicken dung and palmshell charcoal; the more charcoal used, the faster the composting process. Under aerobic conditions the Bacillus group became dominant and produced antibiotics that inhibited growth of soil-borne pathogens and suppressed root diseases. Charcoal compost is now sold in Japan as a biological fungicide. Various other organic composts are now being been produced from livestock excretions and charcoal and sold commercially. Wood vinegar Wood vinegar is a liquid produced by cooling the smoke from carbonisation with air or water. The liquid contains the volatile substances emitted with pyrolysis; the water soluble fraction is wood vinegar and the oily fraction is wood tar. The chemical composition of wood vinegar depends on the raw materials. The major components of broad-leaved trees are water (81%), acetic acid (8-10%), methanol (2.44%), acetone (0.56%) and soluble tar (7%). Conifers are rich in water and acetic acid (3.5%), but the other components are lower than in broad-leaved trees. The chemical components of wood vinegar tend to be unstable, so the vinegar is sold as a complex material. It has been recognised since the 1960s that wood vinegars extracted from broad-leaved trees are more efficient than conifer vinegars for growth and rooting of various plants. The acidity of wood vinegar concentrate can kill microorganisms, plants and some larvae, but the diluted form stimulates rooting, plant growth and microbial propagation. Use of waste
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In 2000 incineration of waste was prohibited in Japan to reduce the discharge of CO2 and dioxins. Some cities are now carbonising their garbage, but are encountering problems. The high water content of the waste requires a lot of energy to carbonise, and some products are unsuitable for agricultural use because of the high concentration of heavy metals and salt. Thermal electric power plants have tried burning the charcoal with coal and oil. Wastes disposed from food processing and livestock excretions have been also carbonised and used in agriculture with compost. The construction industry produces 4.6 million tonnes of waste wood each year and some construction companies have now switched from incineration to carbonisation to produce charcoal for agricultural use, and for humidity control in houses and buildings to control moulds and ticks. Thinnings from bamboo forests produce a charcoal with a different structure to wood charcoal, useful for purifying water and air. continued >
A feasibility study of carbonisation of waste wood from construction, saw mills, prunings and other sources powerd by surplus heat from the carbonising incinerator estimates that waste wood of 936.0 Mg-C/year could be converted into a net carbon sink of 298.5 Mg-C/year, fixing 31.9 % of the carbon into charcoal. Another study in Sumatra, Indonesia estimates that 368,000 t/year of biomass residue and waste from the plantation and pulp mill can be converted into 77,000 t/year of charcoal, thereby reducing carbon emissions by 62,000 t-C/year (or 230,000 t-CO2). As charcoal production and use expands, technology has grown from simple kilns to automatic mass production facilities including movable batch type kilns, rotary kilns and swing kilns. In some cases the extra gas has been used for thermal electric power generation. At the same time, studies are establishing industrial standards and functions for carbonised materials, bringing the charcoal industry into the 21st century. This abstract summarises the results of Japanese research into the use of charcoal in agriculture in the past 30 years. For copies of the full paper, which also covers forestry and has extensive references, please email me. ď Ž
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Discovering Terra Preta Australis: Rethinking the capacity of Australian soils to sequester carbon Adriana Downie (1,2), Lukas Van Zwieten (3), Ronald Smernik (4), Tim Flannery (5), Stephen Kimber (3), Paul Munroe (1) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
School of Material Science and Engineering, University of NSW, NSW BEST Energies, Somersby NSW NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar NSW Department of Soil and Water, University of Adelaide, SA Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University Orange NSW Macquarie University NSW
This paper describes the discovery of Terra Preta Australis, and redefines our understanding of the long term carbon storage capacity of some of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agricultural soils. Two thousand years ago, above the flood zone of the Amazon River in South America, the pre-Columbian inhabitants were attending earthen ovens. Along with cooking and pottery these ovens produced biochar which was added to the surrounding soils to create the Amazonian Dark Earths or Terra Preta we know today. The Terra Preta of the Amazon basin have provided an invaluable case study of the long term turnover rates, productivity (soil fertility) and possible side effects of biochar-amended soils. They have demonstrated that biochar addition can provide an agronomically beneficial, low risk sink, capable of storing large amounts of carbon for hundreds to thousands of years at levels far beyond those in surrounding soils. Meanwhile, in Australia, the pre-European Aboriginals in nomadic camps above the flood zone of the Murray River were also using earthen ovens to cook food. The resulting biochar and refuse was discarded, building up into mounds over generations, creating the anthrosols which remain today. In an expedition in 2007, Downie and Van Zwieten discovered and mapped dozens of these camps. They are visually distinguished in the environment by raised mounds and altered natural vegetation. Soil profile photographs (see below) show stark differences between the Terra Preta Australis sites and nearby soils, reminiscent of those taken by Sombrek et al in the Amazon. An extensive range of techniques have been used to characterise the Terra Preta Australis and surrounding soils. These include chemical and biological tests, radio carbon dating, Py-GC-MS, SEM/ EDAX to assess the physical structures of the comparative soils and identify discrete biochar pieces in the soil matrix. 13C CP NMR technique was used to profile the soil carbon and determine the contribution of biochar to the carbon pool. continued >
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Terra Preta Australis resemble Amazonian Dark Earths. High levels of aromatic carbon, characteristic of biochar, were identified. The proportion of aromatic signal increased down the profile, and represented >50% of total signal. There is a close association between the biochar carbon, recognisable by the distinct cellular structures, and the surrounding mineral content. The high calcium content amalgamated in the biochar is a common feature in the Terra Preta Australis samples. The discovery of the existence of Terra Preta Australis accelerates our understanding of biocharâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potential in the Australian environment and redefines our assumptions of the upper limits of soil carbon sequestration potential. Converting Australian agricultural soils to Terra Preta Australis through the application of biochar will sequester carbon and improve soil chemistry and structure, increasing agricultural viability in a changing climate. ď Ž
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Greenhouse gas mitigation benefits of biochar as a soil amendment Annette Cowie Forest Science Centre, NSW Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 100, Beecroft NSW 2119 annettec@sf.nsw.gov.au There is growing interest in the use of biochar as a soil amendment, with potential to increase soil carbon, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and enhance agricultural productivity. The pyrolysis process generates renewable bioenergy and also produces biochar that can provide long term carbon sequestration in soil, and therefore it is said to be a ‘carbon negative’ energy source, that is, it removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than is emitted through the use of biomass for energy. To document the extent to which pyrolysis is ‘carbon negative’, it is necessary to calculate the whole of life GHG balance of the biochar production and utilisation process, and compare this with conventional practice. This study provides estimates of the whole of life GHG balance for various biochar feedstocks applied to different cropping systems (biochar case) in comparison with current practices (reference case). The emissions reduction benefit of biochar application to soil is calculated as the difference in emissions between the biochar and reference cases. The factors that influence the GHG benefit of biochar as a soil amendment are: • • • • •
the proportion of feedstock-C that is retained in biochar after pyrolysis the net energy exported from the pyrolysis process the turnover rate of biochar-C in soil the reduction in nitrous oxide emissions from soil due to biochar application the reduction in fertiliser requirements due to increased nutrient-holding capacity of biochar • the crop growth increases resulting from biochar application • the fossil fuel consumption in production, processing, transport and application of biochar • the fossil fuel source and biomass use in the reference case. The net emissions reduction for different biochar scenarios ranged from 80 to 150 kt CO2e per 50 kt (dry) feedstock, equivalent to 1.3–2.0 times the CO2e in the feedstock. continued >
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The main factors influencing GHG balance of biochar application were, in order of significance, avoided landfill, C sequestration in soil, displaced fossil fuel emissions and reduced N2O emissions from soil. The most uncertain aspects are the assumptions associated with landfilling of biomass in the reference case: the extent of biomass decomposition and the proportion of decomposed biomass that is released as methane. The turnover rate of char-carbon, and impact of biochar on crop yield and nitrous oxide emissions from soil are also uncertain aspects that require investigation to improve estimates of these components. The greatest GHG mitigation is obtained for the cases that utilise waste material that would otherwise be landfilled. The benefit is lower for cases that divert biomass from its current beneficial use as a fertiliser. Under the assumptions used in this study, the case where biomass is pyrolysed to syngas for generation of electricity has a slightly lower GHG mitigation benefit than where biochar, for soil amendment, is the major output of pyrolysis. Under emissions trading, credit for avoided methane and renewable energy would readily be awarded. Credit for stabilising organic carbon could theoretically be granted either as avoided emissions or increase in soil C. Claims in relation to reduced N2O emissions will be hard to substantiate due to high uncertainty. ď Ž
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Estimation of net carbon sequestration potential with farmland application of bagasse-char: Lifecycle CO2 analysis through a pilot pyrolysis plant Koji Kameyama (1), Yoshiyuki Shinogi (1), Teruhito Miyamoto (1), Koyu Agarie (2) 1. National Institute for Rural Engineering, National Agriculture and Food Research Organisation, 2-1-6, Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki Japan 2. NPO Subtropical Biomass Research Center, 1190-204, Ueno-Nobaru, Miyakojima, Okinawa Japan kojikame@affrc.go.jp Enrichment of soil carbon storage is regarded as a viable option for mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agricultural sector. Carbon sequestration through application of biomass into the soil is an effective sequestration pathway for agriculture. Biochar, charcoal produced from pyrolysis of biomass, is highly stable against microbial decomposition, and farmland application of biochar as a soil amendment has potential in mitigating GHG emissions. However, GHG is emitted throughout the lifecycle of biochar including production, transportation and farmland application. Therefore, it is important to estimate the net carbon sequestration potential (carbon balance) by taking into account such GHG emissions. To this end, we collected data from a pilot pyrolysis plant operated in Miyako Island, Japan and performed experiments on farmland application of bagasse-char, a charcoal produced at the plant from pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse. The net carbon sequestration potential was estimated as follows: • Pyrolysis processes emit the highest levels of CO2, so it is important to reduce emissions from the pyrolysis processes. • Net carbon sequestration was positive when feedstock water content was less than 20%, so it is important to sufficiently dry bagasse before pyrolysis.
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Biochar effects on nitrous oxide emissions from a pasture soil Leo Condron (1,2), Tim Clough (1), Jessica Ray (1), Rob Sherlock (1), Maureen O’Callaghan (3) 1. Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, New Zealand 2. Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, New Zealand 3. AgResearch, New Zealand Leo.Condron@lincoln.ac.nz While the effect of adding chemo-physical constituents such as biochar is promoted as a carbon sequestration option, the effects of biochar amendment on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in grazed pastoral systems have not been examined. To determine the effects of biochar and urine amendment on N2O emissions from soil, a laboratory incubation experiment was carried out at 20ºC with the following treatments: • • • • • •
control (soil + water) soil + urine soil + urine + biochar (10 t ha-1) soil + urine + biochar (20 t ha-1) soil + urine + biochar (30 t ha-1) soil + biochar + water (20 t ha-1).
Biochar material (0-10 mm) made from Pinus radiata wood waste was incorporated at rates equivalent to 10, 20 and 30 t ha-1 in replicate samples of a silt loam pasture topsoil contained in sealed glass jars with a large headspace. Urine was collected from grazing cows and applied to the soil-biochar treatments at a rate equivalent to 750 kg N ha-1. Nitrous oxide determinations were made after 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 27, and 29 days. Gas samples were taken of ambient air and from the headspace of the jars at 15 and 30 minute intervals and analysed using a gas chromatograph. Results showed that N2O fluxes were the lowest in the absence of urine, while the highest N2O fluxes occurred in the soil + urine treatment with a mean maximum flux of 54,573 μg m-2 d-1 immediately following treatment application. In the other urine treatments where biochar was applied, the maximum fluxes also ensued following treatment application, although the maximum fluxes decreased with increasing rates of biochar addition. Cumulative N2O emissions reflected the daily fluxes with maximum emissions from the soil + urine treatment, while significantly lower cumulative emissions occurred at biochar amendment rates over 20 t ha-1. As a percentage of urine-N applied, the cumulative N2O emissions equated to averages of 27% for the soil + urine treatment, 23% for the soil + urine + biochar (10 t ha-1), 13% for the soil + urine + biochar (20 t ha-1), and 7% for the soil + urine + biochar (30 t ha-1). continued >
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Biochar effects on nitrous oxide emissions from a pasture soil Leo Condron, Tim Clough, Jessica Ray, Rob Sherlock, Maureen Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Callaghan
The addition of biochar on its own did not contribute to any enhanced N2O flux indicating that the biochar on its own did not stimulate N2O-N fluxes. The reason for the lower fluxes at the higher rates of biochar in the urine-amended soils may have been due to the biochar affecting the aerobic status of the soil and thus reducing anaerobic conditions and N2O fluxes. Evidence for biochar affecting soil moisture status is seen in the soil gravimetric water data where values decreased with increasing biochar content. This, in turn, would have reduced the potential for denitrification and may explain the lower N2O fluxes that occurred with increasing rates of biochar addition. Future work is urgently required to assess the impacts of biochar amendment on N2O emissions when applied to pasture soils under field conditions, and its associated effects on plant N uptake, and N leaching along with other N transformations. ď Ž
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Influence of biochars on nitrous oxide emission and nutrient leaching from two contrasting soils BJ Hatton (1), Bhupinderpal Singh (2), Balwant Singh (1), Annette L Cowie (2) 1. Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia 2. Forest Science Centre, NSW Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 100, Beecroft NSW 2119 Australia bp.singh@sf.nsw.gov.au Soil biochar application is promoted as a climate change mitigation tool due to its potential to increase long term soil carbon pools and reduce greenhouse emissions. Biochars are reputed to affect soil nitrogen (N) transformation processes, but only a few studies have tested in detail the influence of biochars on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and inorganic N leaching. In the present study, the influence of four biochars on N2O emission and N leaching from the two contrasting soils (a Kurosol and a Vertosol) was studied using repacked soil columns over three wetting–drying (W–D) cycles and two leaching events spanning five months. A control (acid-washed sand) was also included for each soil. The four different biochars used were: • • • •
W400 – woodchip (eucalyptus saligna) biochar prepared at 400°C non-activated PM400 – poultry manure/rice hulls biochar prepared at 400°C non-activated W550 – woodchip (eucalyptus saligna) biochar prepared at 550°C, activated PM550 – poultry manure/rice hulls biochar prepared at 550°C, activated.
During the initial four months, application of PM400 resulted in increased soil N2O emissions and NO3--N leaching in comparison with the control. The other biochars (W400, W550, PM550) generally decreased soil N2O emissions, but did not influence the leaching of NH4+-N and NO3--N. The greater N2O emissions and NO3--N leaching from the PM400-amended soils (cf. control) initially can be ascribed to its high intrinsic N content, which may be relatively labile and hence more readily mineralised than in the other biochars. The most important finding is that after four months, all biochars tested, including the low-temperature poultry manure biochar, decreased both forms of soil N losses, ie emissions of N2O and leaching of NH4+-N by up to 94%, relative to the control. We hypothesise that the increased effectiveness of biochars in reducing N2O emissions and NH4+-N leaching over successive W–D and leaching events is due to an increase in sorptive properties as biochar ‘ages’ through oxidative reactions on the biochar surfaces and subsequent interactions with soil constituents. We conclude that biochars can be effective in reducing loss of N in soils, through reduction in N2O emissions and inorganic N leaching, especially NH4+-N. Further studies are needed to: • investigate the causes of the observed reductions in soil N2O emission and NH4+-N leaching by biochars • determine optimal application rate and ageing level for maximising these beneficial effects of biochars.
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BEST pyrolysis of waste wood: Greenhouse gas balance assessment Adriana Downie (1,2), Dorothee Quade (3), Matthew Bennett (2), Annette Cowie (4), Lukas van Zwieten (4), Peter Campbell (5) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales BEST Energies, Somersby NSW Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand NSW Department of Primary Industries Energy Transformed, CSIRO, Victoria
A case study of biochar and energy produced from wood waste separated at a waste transfer station on landfill, was used to calculate lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to business-as-usual. An existing commercial application was used for the case study, including an actually available waste wood stream which was characterised. The study has been divided into two parts; for each a ’Base Case’, business-as-usual scenario and proposed ’Project Case’ scenarios were designed. The project boundaries for greenhouse accounting purposes can be seen in the figure provided on the next page. The project case study, involving the construction of a BEST Slow Pyrolyser™, is designed to divert part of a wood waste stream from landfill while generating green electricity for wholesale to the grid and a stable, high-carbon, Agrichar™ soil amendment. The impact of the Agrichar™ soil amendment when used on farms in the region is under assessment and shows promise to improve crop yields, reduce fertiliser requirements, improve water holding capacity and act as a long term carbon sink. The greenhouse balance, developed using the methodology guidelines from the Department of Climate Change’s Greenhouse Friendly™ program, has demonstrated that the project will mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by three main pathways: • reduced emissions from landfilled organics • displacement of fossil fuel • sequestration of biogenic carbon (removing it from the short term carbon cycle). Combined with the mitigation benefits achieved through use of the biochar as a soil amendment, the whole process is carbon-negative, and will remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The results of Part 1 of the study show that the operation of the project will abate 95% of the 115,269 tonnes of CO2-e Base Case emissions. As calculated in Part 2, the land application of biochar will abate 27% of the 34,442 tonnes of CO2-e Base Case emissions. The latter figure does not include the additional greenhouse gas savings associated with agricultural use of the biochar, such as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from soil, reduced requirement for N fertilisers, enhanced cation exchange capacity and nutrient retention, increased pH and reduced tensile strength which all result in an overall increase of soil fertility and hence, agricultural productivity. continued >
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BEST pyrolysis of waste wood: Greenhouse gas balance assessment The main barriers to engaging biochar in carbon trading, which discourage the use of biochar as a soil amendment, will be discussed in detail in the paper. ď Ž Figure 1:
Overview of project Boundaries A, B and C and respective associated Base Cases
Acknowledgement:
We thank the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change for funding for this study under its Climate Action Grant program.
Adriana Downie, Dorothee Quade, Matthew Bennett, Annette Cowie, Lukas van Zwieten, Peter Campbell
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Biochar holds potential for reducing soil emissions of greenhouse gases Lukas Van Zwieten (1), Bhupinderpal Singh (2), Stephen Joseph (3), Josh Rust (1) , Steve Kimber (1) 1. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar NSW Australia 2. Forest Science Centre, NSW Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 100, Beecroft NSW 2119 Australia 3. School of Material Science and Engineering, University of NSW, NSW 2052 Australia lukas.van.zwieten@dpi.nsw.gov.au Climate change caused by increases in the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is predicted to cause catastrophic impacts on our planet (IPCC AR4, 2006). This must therefore provide the impetus for action to reduce emissions and increase removal of GHGs from the atmosphere. The soil is both a significant source and sink for the greenhouse gases methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Biochar holds particular promise in reducing atmospheric concentrations of these gases. Biochar application has demonstrated potential to mitigate N2O and CH4 emissions from soil. From the limited published data, it is clear that reductions up to 90% can be achieved in some cases, but the mechanisms are not well understood. There are a wide range of biotic and abiotic mechanisms which work to control the emissions as well as sink capacity for these gases in soil. This poster will provide a diagrammatic representation of mechanisms of the key processes, which are controlled by factors including soil aeration/moisture, pH, microbial processes, soil structure, nutrient levels, easily-mineralisable carbon pools and reactive surfaces. The development of biochar as a tool for mitigation of GHG requires detailed understanding of interactions between biochar and site-specific soil and climate conditions, and management practices that alter the greenhouse source-sink capacity of soils. This paper will provide a basis for future research to target key gaps in knowledge of biochar interactions for reducing soil non-CO2-GHG emissions. ď Ž
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The reaction of soil with high and low mineral ash content biochars SD Joseph (1), P Munroe (1), K Privat (1), Y Lin (1), CH Chia (1), A Downie (1), J Hook (7), A Shasha (7), L Van Zwieten (2), S Kimber (2), A Cowie (3), BP Singh (3), J Lehmann (4), JE Amonette (5), E Carter (6), R Smernik (8) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
School of Material Science and Engineering, University of NSW, NSW 2052 Australia NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar NSW 2477 Australia NSW Department of Primary Industries, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853 USA Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland WA 99354 USA School of Chemistry, University of Sydney, NSW 2006 NMR Facility, Analytical Centre, UNSW, Sydney NSW 2052 Soil and Land Systems School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, DP 636, The University of Adelaide
joey.stephen@gmail.com When biochar produced from pyrolysis of biomass is applied to soils, research has shown that, in most instances, it can increase soil health and crop yields, reduce leaching of organic and inorganic fertilisers, and adsorb toxic compounds in the soil (Lehmann and Joseph 2009). Reactions of the biochar with minerals can lead to the formation of stable organo-mineral complexes. Biochar reacts with mineral matter, microorganisms and plant roots to form organomineral complexes (Binh et al 2008, Joseph et al 2008, Lehmann et al 2009). These complexes can form on the surface and in the interior of the particles. Research has shown that these complexes are heterogeneous and the morphology and composition can vary between particles in the same soil profile (Lehmann and Joseph 2009). To determine the mechanisms that may explain the formation of these complexes, detailed analysis of biochars produced by BEST Energies Pty from paper sludge, chicken manure and greenwaste was undertaken before and after they were used to grow corn in a ferrosol soil. Examination of the biochars were carried out using SEM, TEM, Microprobe, ATR-FTIR, Pye-GCMS, XPS, NMR and ESR. The results from a similar examination of four different Terra Preta soils aged approximately 600 years were utilised to help determine potential stable states that biochar may attain. continued >
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The reaction of soil with high and low mineral ash content biochars SD Joseph, P Munroe, K Privat, Y Lin, CH Chia, A Downie, J Hook, A Shasha, L Van Zwieten, S Kimber, A Cowie, BP Singh, J Lehmann, JE Amonette, E Carter, R Smernik
The results of this analysis indicate that the following mechanisms can explain the different structures in the aged biochar: • Biotic and abiotic redox reactions. These redox reactions that lead to the formation of gas could result in the formation of the micropores at the interface of the high carbon and high mineral surfaces. • Polymerisation due to interaction of radicals on the char surface and soil organic matter • Other solid-solution interactions including complexation, adsorption, desorption, solid solution formation, heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation, recrystallistion, diffusion within and on the surface of the char. • Conversion of SOM to humic and fulvic acids on mineral surfaces that act as catalysts. Given that low temperature amorphous carbon is a semi-metal it is also possible that there are solid state reactions in which there is a movement of ions, electrons and vacancies.
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The role for biochar in management of the agricultural landscape: A farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective Robert Quirk (1), Lukas Van Zwieten (2), Stephen Kimber (2), Adriana Downie (3), Josh Rust (2), Scott Petty (2) 1. Duranbah NSW 2487 2. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar NSW 2477 3. BEST Energies Australia, Somersby NSW 2250 rgquirk@bigpond.com Modern management of the agricultural landscape provides challenges not seen in previous generations. Farmers, regulators, environmental groups and the community want to ensure farming does not contribute to environmental degradation or climate change. I have been farming my 200ha sugarcane property at McLeods Creek, Tweed Valley in northern NSW for over 30 years. The property is very low lying at 0.5m AHD and contains drainage channels to export excess rainwater. The drainage channels have allowed the sulfur present in these low lying soils to oxidise. It is estimated the soils contain a potential 50t of sulfuric acid/ha, a significant environmental threat if not carefully managed. I have implemented laser levelling, liming, planting into mounds, tram tracking, oat and soy bean rotations, minimum tillage and green harvest (no burning). This has resulted in a 25 per cent reduction in chemical use, an 80 per cent decrease in heavy metal and acidity discharges, and a 38 per cent increase in productivity. However, there is more to be done. It has recently been shown that large emissions of N2O (up to 45.9 kg N/ha), from acid sulfate soils used for cane production in the Tweed Valley occur over a 12 month period following 160Kg N (350kg urea) addition to the crop (Denmead et al 2008). This is equivalent to 43t CO2e emissions. This compares poorly with other cane growing regions where an estimated 4.7 kg N/ha are released following similar N application rates. Apart from the potential environmental harm from the potent greenhouse gas N2O, the purchase price for urea is over $1100/t. There is an obvious need to improve N use efficiency in this farming system, for both environmental and economic reasons. NSW DPI conducted a survey of soils on my property, and it appears that green harvest (ie not burnt) may deplete soil C stocks (table below). A neighbouring property that was managed and farmed similarly to mine until five years ago has higher soil C and higher amounts of char (black carbon) as determined by MIR analysis. Cane burning is in the last phases of being phased out in Australia, and no studies have been done on whether this will affect soil health and soil C stocks long term. continued >
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The role for biochar in management of the agricultural landscape: A farmer’s perspective Robert Quirk, Lukas Van Zwieten, Stephen Kimber, Adriana Downie, Josh Rust, Scott Petty
Biochar may offer a solution! Application of biochar will enable rapid increases in soil C (to levels commensurate with neighbouring properties still burning cane) and improve soil health and possibly N use efficiency. A 15 plot trial was set up on my property to test biochars made by BEST Energies from papermill wastes and council green waste. Controls included lime treatment. Each plot used three rows of cane and was 30m in length to enable commercial-scale harvesting. The scientifically verified benefits of biochar to crop yield, leaching of nitrate, and volatilisation of N2O will be presented in this paper. Table 1: Carbon contents of green-harvest and burnt cane Total soil C (%) Char carbon MIR analysis (%)
Green harvest
Burnt cane
2.5 ±0.2
3.6 ±0.2
0.39 ±0.07
0.66 ±0.11
Note: 0-5cm soil profile, 7 sampling sites.
All land managers are becoming very aware of the need not only to reduce their chemical inputs but to reduce their impacts on the environment, if they are to be financially and environmentally sustainable in the long term. We must take every opportunity to ensure our long term viability and I see biochar as a way of achieving this. The initial work has shown that we can reduce fertiliser inputs, N2O emissions and our carbon footprint, and increase productivity at the same time. I am not sure we need anything more positive than these outcomes to continue this exciting research work with biochar.
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Productivity and nutrient availability on a Ferrosol: Biochar, lime and fertiliser Katrina Sinclair (1), Peter Slavich (1), Lukas van Zwieten (1), Adriana Downie (2) 1. Wollongbar Agricultural Institute 2. BEST Energies Australia katrina.sinclair@dpi.nsw.gov.au Biochar produced from slow pyrolysis of organic materials has the potential to be used as a soil amendment by increasing soil organic C and nutrient availability. Ferrosol soils are naturally highly acidic with low CEC and, hence, lime is commonly applied. A plot field study was conducted in a subtropical environment to determine the benefits of incorporating biochar and lime on yield, nutrient uptake and soil health. In a factorial design, three biochar types (0, 10 t/ha cattle feedlot, 10 t/ha greenwaste) and two rates of lime (0, 5 t/ha) were applied in November 2006 and then sown with Amarillo pinto peanut. In May 2007 and 2008 annual ryegrass was oversown with two rates of N fertiliser (0, 50kg N/ha/month) applied throughout the ryegrass growing season. Phosphorus and potassium (0, (28 P:50 K kg/ha)) were applied as split applications annually. In 2007 and 2008 highest yields (8507 and 8441 kg DM/ha, respectively) were achieved from the N fertiliser + cattle feedlot biochar plots. The addition of cattle feedlot biochar increased the yield response to N by 9% in 2007 and by 16% in 2008. The greenwaste biochar did not enhance yield. Without fertiliser the cattle feedlot biochar increased N and P uptake by 23% and 36%, respectively, in spring 2007 whereas the greenwaste biochar had no effect on N and P uptake. With fertiliser the biochars increased N and, more particularly, P uptake. Changes in soil quality included increased soil extractable NO3, P, K, Mg and Na in the cattle feedlot biochar plots and a 0.5% increase in soil C by both biochars. In the short term statistically significant benefits to agronomic performance and soil health were demonstrated by the use of cattle feedlot biochar. ď Ž
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Evidence for biochar saving fertiliser for dryland wheat production in Western Australia Paul Blackwell (1), Bill Bowden (1), Stewart Edgecombe (1), Zakariah Solaiman (2) Reg Lunt (1) 1. Department of Agriculture and Food WA Geraldton Regional Office 2. University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Perth WA pblackwell@agric.wa.gov.au Initial field experiments reported here provide evidence of lower fertiliser requirements for wheat production in sand and sandy loam soils treated with biochar in Western Australia (WA). In 2007, a sandy loam soil was used to grow wheat with different rates of deep-banded (at 50-100mm depth) biochar made from two sources: • oil mallee stem and leaf material manufactured at low temperature • jarrah wood manufactured at high temperature. Results indicate that at paddock rates of 1-2 t/ha the same yield could be obtained using half the recommended rate of a biological fertiliser (a mixture of minerals inoculated with beneficial soil microbes) when either the jarrah or oil mallee char was deep banded. This result may be due to alteration of mycorrhizal colonisation or adsorption of nutrients by the biochars. In 2008, a poor sand soil (Colwell P 12 ppm) was used to grow wheat in a poor season with and without deep-banded application of jarrah biochar manufactured at high temperature. Crop nutrition was controlled to only vary the supply of phosphorus (P) to the crop. Results indicate that a 13 kg/ha reduction in the rate of applied water soluble P with biochar was able to produce the same crop yield (0.75 t/ha) as the recommended rate of soluble P (20 kg/ha) without added biochar. However, in all other treatments at high P rates and where water-insoluble rock phosphate or high rates of biological fertiliser were used, the application of biochar did not improve grain yield. Where differences were observed, mycorrhizal root colonisation and increased P uptake explained much of the yield effects of biochar. This one result is economically encouraging if the cost of biochar is low and the effects are long term, but should be considered against other nutrient sources. These early results encourage more extensive testing of biochar to determine the longevity and scale of potential benefits resulting from a reduction in P fertiliser use on poor sands in Western Australia.
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Charcoal application for poultry farming Takeo Takahashi (1), Tsuyoshi Hirowaka (2) 1. Poultry farmer, Masiko-cho, Tochigi, Japan 2. International Charcoal Cooperative Association, Tokyo, Japan hrwk_arang@yahoo.co.jp Mr Takeo Takahashi is a poultry farmer, breeding 3000 hens to produce eggs. He utilises charcoal and wood vinegar (wood pyrolysis liquid) to breed chickens without chemicals, antibiotics or vaccines. After 30 years’ experience, he is convinced that charcoal and wood vinegar build the birds’ resistance to disease. His established method is to let the chickens suffer the disease at first and then help them recover with the charcoal and wood vinegar. At 30 days of age, the chickens are fed in plain feeder boxes where the mixture of chicken manure and food propagates Coccidium so that by 40 days of age, all chickens have coccidiosis. They are then fed powdered charcoal mixed with wood vinegar for 12 hours; followed by half their regular food supply mixed with 10% charcoal (by weight) soaked in wood vinegar. On the third day, they are fed 70% of their normal food but if they are still unhealthy, are fed only 50%. On the fourth day, their food supply is back to normal; although their feeder box is kept empty for 4-5 hours a day to make them feel hungry. Mr Takahashi breeds the chickens on the ground where many kinds of virus, mycoplasma, and pathogens such as staphylococcus propagate and increase the baby chickens’ disease immunity. The 3000 egg-producing hems are fed charcoal (1% by weight) soaked in wood vinegar, around 1.1g per hen per day, equivalent to 1.2 tonnes of charcoal a year. The charcoal is made from deciduous trees because bamboo charcoal overstimulates the chickens’ metabolism and keeps egg production high even in summer, when the chickens need to rest. The hens produces eggs for 480 days from 21 weeks of age at a 75% production rate. Chicken manure containing charcoal is fermented completely and utilised for paddy cropping every year to grow rice without chemicals.
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Effect of biochar application on soil amelioration and growth of Acacia mangium (Willd.) and Michelia montana Blume Chairil A Siregar (1), Ulfah J Siregar (2) 1. Forestry Research and Development Agency, Ministry of Forestry, Indonesia 2. Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia siregarca@yahoo.co.id ulfahjsiregar@yahoo.com Information on the use of biochar in forest plantations is still scarce although its function as a soil conditioner is already known. In addition, biochar is effective in carbon fixation and environmental conservation. If the technique of biochar application as a means of soil amelioration is developed, it may contribute greatly to the establishment of plantations on marginal soils and carbon sequestration. Glasshouse experiments were designed to examine the effectiveness of biochar application in soil amelioration for four types of marginal soils: • • • •
very fine, mixed, semi-active, isohyperthermic, Typic Paleudult ashy over sandy, siliceous, isohyperthermic, Typic Udivitrands fine, mixed, active, isohyperthermic Typic Hapludult very fine, kaolinitic, allic, isohyperthermic, Typic Hapludox.
Indicator plants used were A. mangium and M. montana. Charcoal treatments were 0, 5, 10 and 15% (v/v) for the first three soil types (for A. mangium) and 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 % (v/v) for the last soil type (for M. montana). Each of the representative soil samples were collected from the B horizon. Soil samples were ground, sieved (5 mm) and thoroughly mixed before potting 4000 g (air dried) into individual pots in the case of A. mangium. In the case of M. montana, 1000 g air dried soil was used. A completely randomised design with four replications (A. mangium) and five replications (M. montana) was employed to examine the effect of biochar application on plant growth and on selected important soil chemical properties. Char addition to Paleudult, Hapludult, and Hapludox soils significantly improved most of the soil chemical properties examined (soil pH, soil organic C, N total, HCl 25 %-extractable P, HCl 25 % and Bray-extractable K, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, Na, and K), percentage of base saturation, and significantly decreased, KCl 1 N-extractable Al3+ and H+) and significantly improved growth parameters of 6 month-old A. mangium and M. montana. In contrast, in the Udivitrands (sandy soil), biochar application did not improve soil conditions or A. mangium growth.
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This study indicated that biochar application in Paleudult soils at a rate of 10% would be adequate to improve soil nutrient availability, and hence significantly induce a better plant growth response. Meanwhile charcoal application at a rate of 15% would be adequate to improve soil nutrient availability in Hapludult, Udivitrands and Hapludox soils.
The effect of biochars on maize (Zea mays) germination Helen Free, Craig McGill, Jacqueline Rowarth, Mike Hedley New Zealand Biochar Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand J.S.Rowarth@Massey.ac.nz Biochars are being investigated as a method of carbon sequestration in agricultural soils. They have been mooted as having beneficial effects on soil quality parameters such as improved soil structure, enhanced CEC and soil water holding capacity (Krull et al 2008). Nutrient supply has also been suggested, but is likely to depend both on feedstock and on pyrolysis temperature (Aitkenhead et al 2009). In soils with low organic matter content, an attractive option for increasing soil carbon would be incorporation of large amounts of biochar, followed by a crop. This is particularly so where sand country is being considered for dairy conversion. However, some biosolid biochar feedstocks overseas have been reported to contain high concentrations of heavy metals and toxic substances (eg dioxins (Jones & Sewart 1997)). These could have an impact on seed germination and seedling growth with consequent effects on crop establishment and yield. This experiment was established as the first step in measuring the impact of biochars on germination. Five feedstocks (biosolids, corn stover, eucalyptus, fresh pine and willow) were pyrolysed at 550ºC at Massey University. Portions of Manawatu fine sandy loam and Waitarere sand were incubated at field capacity at ambient temperature with four rates (0, 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 t/ha) of individual biochars. After 21 days, thereby allowing equilibration and mitigation of the liming effect of biochars (Laird 2008), 250 g of each of the soilbiochar mixes were spread thinly and evenly on moist Anchor regular weight seed germination paper. For each of the four replicates of each treatment, fifty maize seeds (cultivar N48K2; high quality seed TSW = 347.7g; germination >90%) were distributed regularly on the germination paper, which was then rolled, placed in a basket, sealed in a plastic bag, and incubated at 25ºC for five days. Two replicates were held at 5ºC for 48 hours before processing due to time constraints. For all four replicates, germination percentage and coleoptile length were assessed, and, after washing, seedlings were separated in to coleoptile, root, and seed for drying at 65ºC for 48 hours before recording dry weights. There were no effects of biochar feedstock or rate of biochar application on germination of maize; all germination was greater than 96%. This suggests that in ideal conditions biochars from the feedstocks tested could be incorporated during ploughing with impunity up to a rate of 10 t/ha in Manawatu fine sandy loam or Waitarere sand three weeks before maize is to be sown. Seedling growth response to biochar is under investigation. The next step will be to examine maize establishment in field conditions and investigate the effect of biochars on pasture species such as ryegrass and white clover which are likely to follow a maize crop during dairy conversion.
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Effect of bagasse charcoal and digested slurry on sugarcane growth and physical properties of Shimajiri-maji soil Yan Chen (1), Yoshiyuki Shinogi (1), Masahiko Taira (2) 1. National Agricultural Research Organisation, Japan 2. Miyakgo Island Branch of Okinawa Prefectural Agricultural Research Centre (former) yshinogi@affrc.go.jp This study dealt with the influence of application of bagasse charcoal and digested slurry on sugarcane growth and the physical and chemical properties of Shimajiri-maji soil. In the percolation test, we mixed bagasse charcoal with Shimajiri-maji soil and measured changes in nitrate nitrogen concentration in the percolating water. In the sugarcane field test, we applied bagasse charcoal of two kinds of combination ratios and digested slurry to the soil. Soil physical properties such as specific gravity and available soil moisture, and indicators of sugarcane growth such as stem diameter and length, yield, and Brix were measured. The results indicated that application of bagasse charcoal to Shimajiri-maji-soil reduced the concentration of nitrate nitrogen in percolating water, and increased available soil moisture content. We surmised that the bagasse charcoal adsorbed part of the nitrate nitrogen. In addition, application of bagasse charcoal and digested slurry increased the number of sugarcane stems, stem diameter and length and therefore ultimately increased the sugar produced. We concluded that the application of bagasse charcoal in Shimajiri-maji soil is good for growing sugarcane and the environment. ď Ž
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Concepts of dryland farming systems incorporating biochar and carbon-rich biological fertilisers Paul Blackwell (1), Stephen Joseph (2), Mark McHenry (3), Dale Park (4), Phil Bellamy (5) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Department of Agriculture and Food WA, Geraldton Regional Office University of NSW Murdoch University WA Farmers Federation Trees Midwest
paul.blackwell@agric.wa.gov.au Future benefits to rural industry and communities from biochar and other anthropogenic carbon capture, depend on robust concepts and economic models which can provide confidence to those investing capital and time into new systems of rural activity and income. Due to the inherent difficulties in measuring and validating soil C pools, soil C is not currently considered within carbon pollution reduction schemes. Therefore it is it is necessary to build farming systems and produce specific biochar products whose viability does not depend on receiving income from carbon credits. This in itself may limit the application rates that biochars can be added to broadacre agriculture, as well as the present low price that is paid for renewable energy. In this paper we explore the application of specific biochar products within different farming systems to determine the likely return to the farmer and the biochar producer. A systems and economic analysis for specific cases will indicate that: 1) Integration of groups of farms to support a local pyrolysis power station, and biochar production, with biomass plantation grazing, crop and pasture improvement and manufacture of biochar/mineral complex provides some possibilities of diverse income streams and perhaps a more robust business model than a single use of biochar from renewable energy; some scenarios are explored. 2) Fertiliser replacement by biochar/mineral/biological fertilisers may provide more rapid financial benefits if rates of application are low and material is made from low cost sources of biomass (eg thinning from plantations and waste), minerals and heat. 3) Energy generation through pyrolysis may become financially viable if the biochar/ mineral/biological fertiliser produced can be sold at a price greater than $500/t. 4) The use of biochar in potentially high return applications, such as de-tannification of stockfeed, potting mix and turf applications, can also provide a strategy to increase the rate of return on capital investment. 5) The effect of biochar on crop production depends on both the method and rate of application. 5) Potential fertiliser savings achieved through the use of biochar may provide an income stream to help support the production of low cost biochar sources. ď Ž
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Soil nutrient retention under biochar-amended broadacre cropping soils in southern NSW David Waters (1,2), Jason Condon (1), Lukas Van Zwieten (3), Yin Chan (4), Sergio Moroni (1), Adriana Downie (5) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
E.H. Graham Centre, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar NSW 2477 NSW Department of Primary Industries, Richmond NSW 2753 Best Energies, Somersby NSW 2250
david.waters@dpi.nsw.gov.au Biochar has been associated with the increased productivity of highly weathered and acidic tropicaal Oxisols in the Amazon Basin. These Terra Preta soils have retained their fertility over hundreds of years; enhanced characteristics include soil carbon, structure, microbial activity, pH amelioration and nutrient availability resulting in improved plant growth. While the increased retention of nutrients in biochar-amended soils has previously been recorded, there has been little research on the mechanisms behind this. Furthermore, reactivity of the biochar surface has been shown to vary with time and with abiotic processes such as temperature, affecting its capacity for nutrient retention. This research will be undertaken at Wagga Wagga Agricultural Research Institute in southern NSW (mean 550 ml rainfall), and the field trial will operate in red Dermosols grown to wheat and canola. This project will investigate the surface charge density of biochar, and its interaction with soil nutrients and soil micro-organisms in a broadacre dryland cropping context. Changes to char particle surface activity will be measured over time and under varying temperatures. The leaching experiment will measure the proportion of fertiliser N that is retained in soils amended with six rates of both green waste and cow manure biochars. Influence of and interaction with different fertiliser N forms and soil microorganisms will be measured in amended soils. It is anticipated that preliminary results from this experiment will be presented at the conference. This experiment will comprise a component of the total research of a PhD candidature. An understanding of the mechanisms of nutrient retention, apart from improving N use efficiency and associated crop increases, within biochar-amended soils is pivotal to provide beneficial outcomes for agronomic production, environmental quality and system sustainability. ď Ž
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Nitrogen use efficiency improves using greenwaste biochar Lukas Van Zwieten (1), Adriana Downie (2), K.Yin Chan (3), Stephen Kimber (1), Steve Morris (1), Josh Rust (1), Adam Mitchell (1) 1. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar NSW 2477 2. BEST Energies Australia, Somersby NSW 2250 3. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Richmond NSW 2753 lukas.van.zwieten@dpi.nsw.gov.au Technologies to improve nitrogen use efficiency have significant benefits for both farmers and the environment. Production of urea (the principal N fertiliser) has a greenhouse footprint of (4.018 t CO2e per tonne of N), due to its use of fossil fuels for production, and because nitrification and denitrification convert N into the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide in soil. Urea fertilisers have recently become very expensive (ca $1100/t), due to increasing costs of energy, and farmers are looking at ways to minimise inputs. By reducing the inputs of N fertiliser through improving nitrogen use efficiency multiple benefits could be achieved. Evidence suggests that biochar porosity contributes to nutrient adsorption directly through charge or covalent interaction on a large surface area (Major et al 2009). The biochar surfaces adsorb both hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules, including nutrients. In addition, water retention increases because porous biochar particles retain water and reduce its mobility. To test the benefits of biochar for improving N utilisation, a pot trial was established in a climate controlled glasshouse using five rates of N fertiliser (0, 20, 50, 100 and 200 kgN/ha) applied as solubilised urea, and four rates of biochar (0, 5, 10, 20, 50t/ha). Each biochar/ N treatment was replicated six times, using two crop species, wheat and radish, under a biometrical design. Trace minerals were supplied. Biochar was obtained from BEST Energies Australia and also produced from council green waste at 550ยบC, using slow pyrolysis with a heating rate of 100C/min and residence time of 45 minutes. Characteristics of the biochar are given in the table below. The biochar did not contribute to any liming effect of the soil, nor did it contribute significantly to nutrient addition to the soil. The trial used a sandy soil (Yellow Earth (Great Soil Group); xanthic ferralsol (World Soil Group)) from a commercial vegetable producing farm in Gosford, NSW. Biometrically significant increases in N-use efficiency were recorded. Additions of biochar at 10t/ha allowed similar plant biomass production using up to three times less N fertiliser. Details of these important results will be supplied at the conference. continued >
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Nitrogen use efficiency improves using greenwaste biochar Lukas Van Zwieten, Adriana Downie, K.Yin Chan, Stephen Kimber, Steve Morris, Josh Rust, Adam Mitchell
Unit
Biochar
Soil
Colwell Phosphorus
mg/kg
13
n/a
Bray 1 Phosphorus
mg/kg
n/a
430
Total Nitrogen
%
0.14
0.93
Total Carbon (Dumas)
%
78
2
KCl extractable Ammonium -N
mg/kg
<0.3
3.7
KCl extractable Nitrate-N
mg/kg
1.2
69
%
<0.5
<0.5
7.4
4.9
CaCO3 equivalent pH (CaCl2)
Major et al 2009. Biochar effects on nutrient leaching. In Biochar for environmental management: Science and technology eds Lehmann J and Joseph S. Earthscan. ď Ž
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Effect of biochar on mycorrhizal colonisation in subterranean clover and wheat growth Zakaria Solaiman (1), Paul Blackwell (2), Lyn Abbott (1), Paul Storer (3), Daniel Murphy (1) 1. School of Earth and Environment M087, The University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009 2. Geraldton Regional Office, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia 3. Western Mineral Fertilisers, Western Australia solaiman@cyllene.uwa.edu.au Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonise more than 80% of terrestrial plants and help plants by supplying nutrients (P, N, Zn) through extended hyphae beyond the root zones in exchange for carbon from plants. But the ecology and function of mycorrhizal fungi depend on soil and environmental factors and biochar has potential beneficial effects on soil microorganisms, especially AMF. Biochar benefits include: • habitat protection against microbial predators • additional nutrient supply to plants in environments with poor capacity to retain soil nutrients • protection from plant pathogens • provision of additional water supply to plants in low moisture environments • improved capacity of very sandy soils to intercept leachable nutrients and reduce eutrophication risk. Maintaining an appropriate level of soil organic carbon and biological cycling of nutrients is crucial to the success of any soil management in this environment by adding biochar and slow release mineral fertilisers. The residual effect of biochar and mineral fertiliser application was evaluated by mycorrhizal bioassay under glasshouse conditions. Soil samples were collected after a year of drought from the site of a previous field trial at Pinder WA. The biochar had been applied in the field trial 22 months earlier, and the bioassays occurred after one full growing season in 2005 and one fallow drought year in 2006. The presence of biochar from the 2005 incorporation encouraged microbial respiration and microbial biomass; especially after use of mineral fertiliser inoculated with a mixture of beneficial microbes. Soil from plots inoculated with beneficial microbes showed more mycorrhizal colonisation in clover roots where biochar was applied. Shoot phosphorus concentration and uptake were also higher in the biochar plot. This suggests that the colonisation of mycorrhizal fungi and microbial activity through drought periods can be enhanced by deep-banded biochar application even after a drought year. continued >
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Effect of biochar on mycorrhizal colonisation in subterranean clover and wheat growth Zakaria Solaiman, Paul Blackwell, Lyn Abbott, Paul Storer, Daniel Murphy
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Another pot trial investigated the addition of microbial fertiliser (a mixture of rock minerals and beneficial microbes) and the effects of adding three types of biochar compared at a rate of 1.5 t/ha uniformly mixed. The plants were either well-watered (80% of field capacity) or subject to drought stress (40% of field capacity) and grown through to ear emergence. The results showed that the fresh biochar from wood (Simcoa Ltd Bunbury WA) enabled most shoot growth in well-watered conditions, and most root colonisation in drought stress. All biochars increased root colonisation by AMF when added with the mineral and microbial fertilisers. Aged jarrah biochar (ex Wundowie foundry and produced in an earlier decade by the same process as at Simcoa Ltd) provided the most colonisation in well-watered conditions. Plant biomass was not increased by wood biochars in drought conditions, possibly because there was competition for carbon in the restricted pot environment. The results generally encourage the use of fresh wood biochar for field trials in dry land conditions, especially to encourage AMF colonisation in drought environments. ď Ž
Preliminary assessment of the agronomic value of synthetic Terra Preta (STP) Paul Blackwell (1), Stewart Edgecombe (1), Stephen Joseph, Paul Munroe, Yun Lin, CH Chia (2), Lukas van Zwieten, Steve Kimber (3) and Nikolaus Foidl (4) 1. 2. 3. 4.
Department of Agriculture and Food WA Geraldton Regional Office, WA 6530 School of Material Science and Engineering, University of NSW, NSW 2052 Australia NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar NSW 2477 Australia N Foidl Venearth LLC, San Francisco USA
pblackwell@agric.wa.gov.au Dark Earth soils found in the Amazonian basin have probably been formed through the interaction of biochar, minerals, clay, fired pottery, microorganisms and waste biomass (Sombroek 1966, Lehmann et al 2001). Detailed examination of these soils indicated that similar structures could be synthesised through thermal processing of a mixture of biomass, minerals, clay, and crush fired clay at low temperatures in an oxidising environment (Chia et al 2008). Details of the properties of these synthetic terra preta (STP) are provided in another paper. To determine their agronomic potential trials field and pot trials were undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) and NSW Department of Primary Industries. DAFWA used the following procedure. Wheat was grown in vertical buried tubes of 100 mm diameter in poor sandy soil near Geraldton in 2008. Yields from the STP (produced at two temperatures, 220°C and 240°C) were compared with a control and a treatment with wood biochar (SBC) produced at 600°C (SIMCOA Pty Ltd). Biochar and STP were applied at 10t/ha air-dry wt. Each treatment was plus or minus fertiliser. Yields within the fertilised treatments were corrected for variation in N uptake. In this trial, grain yields reached up to 11 t/ha (fig 1). Caution is advised as to the absolute values of these yields, as they may be elevated due to the artificial growing environment. The proportional effects are a more useful comparison. The STP treatments without added nutrients yielded similarly to the fertilised sand with no amendments, while additional yield was gained with the further addition of nutrients. By comparison, the wood biochar treatment provided no additional yield benefit over the control treatments. There seemed to be no difference in yield between the STPs manufactured at either high or low temperature in either the unfertilised or fertilised treatments. Variability in grain yields in the STP and wood biochar treatments without fertiliser was associated with measured differences in N and K uptake.
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Biochar research in sandy soils of central coastal Vietnam Hoang Minh Tam (1), Nguyen Thai Thinh (1), Tran Tien Dung (1), Hoang Vinh (1), Peter Slavich (2), Brad Keen (2), Lukas Van Zwieten (2) 1. Agricultural Science Institute of Central Coastal Vietnam 2. New South Wales Department of Primary Industries brad.keen@dpi.nsw.gov.au The central coastal provinces of Vietnam are home to many of the Vietnamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poorest farmers. The region is characterised by 500,000 ha of sandy soils developed from wind blown coastal dunes and granite weathering. Agricultural production on these soils is limited by their low water and nutrient holding capacity. Ninh Thuan is the driest province in Vietnam with annual rainfall less than 700 mm in areas closest to the coast. The dry season may be 6-8 months long so crops depend on irrigation. Tree crops such as cashew and mango, intercropped with peanuts and cassava, are widely grown in the region. Table grapes are also produced in Ninh Thuan province. Many farmers depend on groundwater for irrigation and domestic use. Crops are irrigated using hand-held hoses attached to pumps or by flooding. Tree crops usually have a single 2-3 m radius earth bund that is built around each tree. Fertilisers and irrigation are applied within this bund. Most farmers fertilise with animal manures; inorganic fertilisers are applied to higher value crops. Farmers typically have little understanding of crop requirements for nutrients and water so resource utilisation tends to be either inadequate or excessive. As part of a collaborative project managed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, the Agricultural Science Institute for Southern Central Coastal Vietnam has established two field experiments using biochar. The first of these aims to examine the potential production benefits of incorporating rice husk biochar into sandy low fertility soils supporting tree crops, with cashew trees used as the experimental model. The rice husk biochar used for field experiments was produced in the Philippines and has a carbon content of 33%. Biochar was incorporated at a rate of 25t ha-1 into soil banded between two circular earth bunds surrounding each tree. This double-bunded ring system was introduced to contain irrigation water closer to the canopy perimeter than the existing single ring bunds. Fertilisers are also applied within this biochar amended zone. The treatments are: 1. 2. 3. 4.
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single bund + fertiliser (common farmer practice) double bund+ biochar + fertiliser double bund + biochar + ½ rate fertiliser single bund + ½ rate fertiliser.
continued>
Biochar research in sandy soils of central coastal Vietnam A second field experiment in Binh Dinh province is assessing the affect of rice husk biochar applied at 10t ha-1 on soil characteristics and peanut production. The treatment comparisons include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
control - no inputs manure 5t ha-1 NPK (30:90:60) manure (5t ha-1) + NPK (30:90:60) biochar (10t ha-1) biochar (10t ha-1) + NPK (30:90:60) biochar (10t ha-1)+ manure 5t ha-1 biochar (10t ha-1)+ manure 5t ha-1 + NPK (30:90:60).
Hoang Minh Tam, Nguyen Thai Thinh, Tran Tien Dung, Hoang Vinh, Peter Slavich, Brad Keen, Lukas Van Zwieten
This poster session will outline the role of biochar in the soil and water management strategies that are being tested in Binh Dinh province, and provide results to date. ď Ž
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Developing collaborative biochar research in Aceh, Indonesia Malem K McLeod (1), Peter Slavich (1), Achmad Rachman (2), Anischan Gani (3), Edi Husen (2), Gavin Tinning (1), Rebecca Lines-Kelly (1) 1. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Tamworth, Australia 2. Indonesian Soil Research Institute, Bogor, Indonesia 3. Indonesian Rice Research Institute, Sukamandi, Indonesia malem.mcleod@dpi.nsw.gov.au Low soil organic matter and carbon levels are major constraints to agricultural production in Australia and Indonesia because of their effects on soil structure, water holding capacity, and chemical and biological fertility. Ongoing collaborative research in improving agricultural production in tsunami-affected areas in Aceh shows that in coastal sandy soils, crop yields responded positively to the addition of soil organic amendments. In Australia, most efforts in soil management are aimed at increasing or maintaining soil organic carbon levels. However, the addition of organic amendments alone is unlikely to increase soil carbon content unless they are applied in large quantities on a regular basis. Soil carbon added through organic amendments or pasture phases is easily lost through cultivation. In Australia, biochar has been used as a soil amendment and to increase the more stable forms of soil carbon. Indonesian research institutions at national and provincial levels have shown a strong interest in using biochar as a soil amendment. Some of the national research institutes have attempted to produce biochar from various local sources and have conducted preliminary studies on rice and other crops. The wider farming and agribusiness communities have responded positively to the potential use of biochar on high value horticultural and floricultural crops. Limited amounts and types of biochar are currently available in the market for these industries. A collaborative biochar project to improve the fertility of degraded soil in Aceh, Indonesia and Tamworth NSW Australia will evaluate: • the effect of biochar on soil properties and plant production • the effect of biochar on nutrient and water use efficiency • nutrient mineralisation from various soil organic amendments in the presence of biochar. In Aceh, the study will focus on coastal sandy soils where peanuts are grown. These soils have low soil organic matter levels, low soil water holding capacity, and low chemical fertility. After the tsunami, peanut crops were completely unproductive in these soils, and applications of manure improved yields but not to pre-tsunami levels. In the long term, manure applications may not be the most viable option for Aceh’s coastal soils due to rapid decomposition and limited manure supplies. Biochar may provide longer lasting benefits for soil improvement and crop yield.
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continued >
Developing collaborative biochar research in Aceh, Indonesia In northern NSW, the study will focus on red cropping soils with low soil organic matter content. Research suggests that efforts to build soil organic matter in these soils is not successful unless a long pasture phase is included in the farming system. Furthermore, soil organic matter built up in the pasture phase is likely to be easily lost in the next cropping phase. The application of biochar is a promising alternative to rebuild soil carbon levels in these soils. This research could be expanded to assess the potential carbon sequestration of biochar and its effect on greenhouse gas emissions in Aceh’s coastal soils and NSW’s red cropping soils.
Malem K McLeod, Peter Slavich, Achmad Rachman, Anischan Gani, Edi Husen, Gavin Tinning, Rebecca Lines-Kelly
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Towards a faster and broader application of biochar: Assessing and recommending appropriate marketing mechanisms Tek Narayan Maraseni, Roger Stone, Jerry Maroulis, Shahbaz Mushtaq Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba QLD 4350 Australia maraseni@usq.edu.au Experience in Brazilian Terra Preta soils and research in other parts of the world unanimously advocates that producing biochar from organic wastes and incorporating it into soils offers multiple environmental and financial benefits. This approach to biochar usage addresses several critical global issues including waste management, renewable energy production, greenhouse gas mitigation, soil degradation prevention, food security, reduced water pollution from agrochemicals, and water quality and quantity enhancement. Despite these benefits, farm level production and use of biochar is not yet viable, largely due to financial and technical constraints. Thus, an incentive mechanism for farmers is crucial for its successful adoption. This paper analyses both the current provisions and the marketing mechanisms of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), one of the three market-based mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol, which links developed and developing countries in achieving global emission targets. Since its establishment, the CDM market is growing exponentially: US$2.6 billion in 2005, U$6.2 billion in 2006 and U$12.8 billion in 2007 (World Bank, 2006, 2007 & 2008; Point Carbon, 2007 & 2008). However, due to the small-scale nature of some CDM projects (such as biogas, solar heating, energy saving lighting, transportation) and high transaction costs, traditional CDM could not reach into these intended sectors (projects) and intended countries (the smallest, least developed countries). Thus in 2007, the CDM Executive Board developed both the concept of programmatic CDM (pCDM) and guidelines for its implementation, with a major goal of registering an indefinite number of projects under a program of activities, distributed over a wide geographical region and implemented over a long period of time, something which was not possible under the traditional CDM. Considering the number of projects (a large number of households need to be involved), their spatial distribution (a wide geographical region needs to be covered) and the temporal scales involved (needs to be implemented over a period of time), biochar projects could fit very well under pCDM activities. However, some issues (methodological, liability of project validation risks and financial risks) need to be resolved before full-scale implementation of biochar projects can occur under the pCDM criteria.
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Annex I countries could develop similar mechanisms to include in their domestic emissions trading schemes. In addition, recognising biochar projects as gold standard status, by which carbon credits generated by these projects attract higher prices (incentives), would encourage faster and widespread global application of biochar projects. ď Ž
Prime Carbon presents a program that rewards farmers with carbon credits for increasing the carbon in their soil Debra Burden Prime Carbon Pty Ltd, Townsville QLD dburden@primecarbon.com.au www.primecarbon.com.au| Prime Carbon has developed a soil enhancement and carbon sequestration program that works with landholders (mainly farmers, local councils and Aboriginal groups) to restore Australia’s soils by changing their land management practices to sequester carbon. Our program aims to increase carbon levels by a minimum of 1% over a two year period, enabling us to issue 55 carbon credits per hectare. Prime Carbon is registered as: • an aggregator of carbon credits with the National Environment Registry • a broker with the National Stock Exchange. This means that we are able to trade carbon credits that have been listed on the National Environment Registry. Prime Carbon donates $0.05 from every carbon credit sold to a community-controlled Sustainability R&D fund. Our program, which operates under the voluntary carbon market, offers a unique and simple solution to offset Australia’s carbon emissions. Our program: • benefits farmers and landholders by improving their soil and providing a buffer against drought, heat stress and uncontrolled erosion which are the key impacts of climate change • benefits companies by providing an economic option to voluntarily offset their carbon emissions while supporting Australian farmers • benefits communities by working together and developing initiatives to support a sustainable future • benefits the environment by facilitating processes that improve soil and water quality and help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere • benefits the economy by providing an economically viable and politically acceptable method to reduce Australia’s net carbon emissions. The program requires landholders to: • reduce the use of chemical fertilisers by at least 30% • use products or processes that have been accredited by Prime Carbon and that have been proven to increase soil carbon by 1% over a two year term • adopt minimum tillage practices no more than once annually and then only to a maximum depth of 200 mm • allow independent measurement of changes in the allocated land to be undertaken • allow independent auditing of the process. Importantly, there is no restriction on continuing to farm or using the allocated land during the five year agreement term.
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The New Zealand Biochar Research Centre: Firmly walking on the ‘ground’ Marta Camps-Arbestain (1), Jacqueline Rowarth (1), Peter Bishop (1), William Aitkenhead (1), Helen Free (1), Jason Hindmarsh (2), Craig McGill (1), Fen Xia Yao (3.41), Mike Hedley (1) 1. New Zealand Biochar Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand 2. Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand 3. NEIKER, Berreaga 1, Derio 48160 Spain 4. Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, East Beijing Street 71, Nanjing 210008 PR China M.Camps@massey.ac.nz Research on several aspects of biochar technologies has recently started at the New Zealand Biochar Research Centre (NZBRC) (Massey University), in collaboration with other New Zealand and overseas research institutes, local industry, regional government and community groups. The research centre aims to advance the understanding of biochar for mitigating global climate change and to enable its use in New Zealand, particularly by agricultural and forestry sectors. The work at the NZBRC is organised into three closely linked streams of R&D activities: • soil science and biochar • pyrolysis plant and biochar engineering • biochar and greenhouse gas mitigation strategies. Current and near future activities of the soil science and biochar stream are described herein. Soils differ widely so may respond differently to addition of biochar. Biochar characteristics are not unique, and vary depending on type of feedstock and conditions of the pyrolysis process. Therefore before applying biochar to the soil, both soil and biochar characteristics must be well known, and their most probable interactions and changes over time must be identified, if a specific environmental outcome is to be achieved (Krull et al 2008). Research should thus be focused on the development of tailor-made biochars to respond to specific crops and soils within safe environmental constraints. This may require: • a dditional pre- and/or post treatment of the biochars (eg to increase the surface charge of the char to retain nutrients, to increase surface area and hydrophobicity to retain organic pollutants) • blending with uncharred materials (eg to balance the nutrient content). continued >
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The creation of pyrolysis products with added value will contribute positively to offsetting the cost of C mitigation with this technology. Nonetheless this research must be paralleled with lifecycle analysis, environmental impact assessments, and lifecycle costing analysis to ensure that the main goals (eg C negative process, economically feasible, environmentally-sound product), in addition to fertility attributes, are achieved. The research currently undertaken at the NZBRC is focused on the detailed characterisation of biochars from several types of New Zealand feedstocks (sewage sludge, wood and crop residues) obtained at different temperatures (Aitkenhead et al, this issue) and in germination trials (Free et al, this issue). Prior to spring field trial work, glasshouse and laboratory experimental studies are being conducted to optimise char and nutrient application rates for crop and pasture establishment on key New Zealand soils; soils selected to achieve C sequestration and a positive agronomic outcome. Detailed studies on biochar weathering with a modified Soxhlet reactor are currently under way (Yao et al this issue) and are aimed at simulating the long term behavior of the biochar. Finally, particular attention will be paid to the development of rapid and accessible technologies for the characterisation and accounting of the biochar added to soils, and on the development of powerful new analytical and conceptual tools to help determine the black C chemical structure and its role in the C cycle, specifically in the New Zealand landscape.
The New Zealand Biochar Research Centre: Firmly walking on the ‘ground’ Marta CampsArbestain, Jacqueline Rowarth, Peter Bishop, William Aitkenhead, Helen Free, Jason Hindmarsh, Craig McGill, Fen Xia Yao, Mike Hedley
References Krull E, Sjemstad J, Baldock J, Smernik R, Kookana R, Sohi S, Lopez-Capel E. Biochar: Is it all (chemically) the same? 2nd Annual International Meeting of the International Biochar Initiative. September 8-10, Newcastle, UK
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Opportunities and challenges for biochar/bioenergy systems in the compliance and voluntary carbon markets Attilio Pigneri (1,2), Ruy Anaya De La Rosa (2) 1. Centre for Energy Research, Massey University, New Zealand 2. New Zealand Biochar Research Centre, Massey University A.Pigneri@massey.ac.nz The Kyoto Protocol, the ongoing climate treaty ending in 2012, was designed to mitigate global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote sustainable development. It marked the launch of the compliance carbon market, to allow trading of emission credits and allowances within the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2008-2012), within the scope of the three Kyoto co-operative mechanisms (emission trading, clean development mechanism (CDM), and joint implementation (JI)). Despite the market having reached a record trading volume of 2.7 Gt CO2-e in 2007 (Røine et al 2008), the figure remains too low when compared to the reduction targets required to stabilise atmospheric GHG concentration to 450 ppm or less. The market is currently undergoing a phase of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;capability buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. A large number of GHG mitigation projects have been submitted through the CDM/JI evaluation pipeline, a number of carbon accounting methodologies have been approved, and some have evolved into established guidelines for project-based GHG accounting. The voluntary carbon market, developed in parallel with the compliance carbon market, has sought to simplify the evaluation, approval and verification procedures and ultimately reduce the high compliance costs under the Kyoto mechanisms. Despite relying ultimately on the methodological framework established within the scope of the compliance market, the voluntary market has offered a more positive environment for experimentation and innovation within the carbon-trading world, being, for instance, the only source of carbon finance for reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation projects. Greenhouse gas mitigation through biochar/bioenergy projects The implementation of biochar and bioenergy systems offers several opportunities for mitigating greenhouse emissions by avoiding emissions of methane from the decay of biomass; offsetting emissions associated with the generation; transmission and end-use of electricity, gas and other fuels; and, more importantly, sequestering carbon in biochar and storing it in soils; reducing emissions from fertiliser production, transport and end-use; and reducing emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) from nitrification/denitrification processes in soils. continued >
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Detailed experimental work is required to establish the scientific basis for accounting, monitoring and verifying the extent of GHG mitigation achievable from the three latter categories in different soil/climate/land-use contexts. Results of particular interest are the fraction of carbon captured in chars produced at different operating conditions and from different biomass feedstocks; the turnover of different charcoals with different soil/climate/land-use combinations; reductions in fertiliser use, and reduction in N2O emissions from soils.
Opportunities and challenges for biochar/bioenergy systems in the compliance and voluntary carbon markets Attilio Pigneri, Ruy Anaya De La Rosa
In addition to this, recognition of these categories of emission reductions within the scope of the carbon markets as advocated by, among others, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD 2009), will require design and development of adequate accounting methodologies, and monitoring and verification procedures. Working back from the current framework and GHG accounting guidelines established within both the compliance and voluntary carbon markets, we explore a number of issues specific to the recognition of the range of GHG mitigation opportunities associated with the implementation of biochar/bioenergy systems. The aims are to inform the research community of RD&D priorities for biochar/ bioenergy systems as seen through the lens of the carbon marketplace, to identify early opportunities for biochar/bioenergy projects within either the compliance or voluntary carbon markets, and to establish biochar as a mainstream greenhouse gas mitigation option. References Røine K, Tvinnereim E & Hasselknippe H (eds.) 2008. Carbon 2008: Post-2012 is now. Point Carbon technical report, March 2008. UNCCD 2009. Required policy actions to include carbon contained in soils including the use of biochar (charcoal) to replenish soil carbon pools, and restore soil fertility and sequester CO2. Submission by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification 5th Session of the ad hoc working group on long term cooperative action under the Convention (AWG-LCA 5), Bonn, Germany, 29 March – 8 April 2009.
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Cadmium removal efficiency of sugarcane biochar: A comparative study* Roselyn Lata, Rajendra Prasad, Surendra Prasad School of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji prasad_re@usp.ac.fj Delignified bagasse has been modified in four different ways to obtain new absorbent materials: • • • •
loaded with diethyldithiocarbamate (Et2Dtc) xanthated in aqueous medium xanthated in DMF charred.
The Cd2+ removal efficiencies of all these materials were evaluated from artificial samples and natural waters in stirred solutions. The effects of solution pH, temperature, time, Cd2+ concentration and absorbency on total uptake were evaluated. A comparison of the material efficiency and cost effectiveness of different methods shows that non-aqueous xanthated bagasse could be the best absorbent. The advantage of the use of these materials is that they are ignitable and leave metal oxide ash that has the dual advantage of tackling the waste disposal problem and concentrating metal ions in a form that can be recovered economically. * No oral delivered
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Paper
Page
Aitkenhead W
Detailed characterisation of biochars obtained from New Zealand feedstocks at different pyrolysis temperatures
36
Ascough P
Black carbon characterisation: Implications for understanding biochar behavior in depositional environments
40
Blackwell P
Concepts of dryland farming systems incorporating biochar and carbon-rich biological fertilisers
85
Blackwell P
Evidence for biochar saving fertiliser for dryland wheat production in Western Australia
80
Blackwell P
Preliminary assessment of the agronomic value of synthetic Terra Preta (STP)
91
Burden D
Prime Carbon presents a program that rewards farmers with carbon credits for increasing the carbon in their soil
97
Camps-Arbestain M
The New Zealand Biochar Research Centre: Firmly walking on the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;groundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
98
Chen Y
Effect of bagasse charcoal and digested slurry on sugarcane growth and physical properties of Shimajiri-maji soil
84
Chia C
Development of a synthetic Terra Preta (STP): Characterisation and initial research findings
35
Condron L
Biochar effects on nitrous oxide emissions from a pasture soil
69
Cowie A
Greenhouse gas mitigation benefits of biochar as a soil amendment
66
Downie A
BEST pyrolysis of waste wood: Greenhouse gas balance assessment
72
Downie A
Discovering Terra Preta Australis: Rethinking the capacity of Australian soils to sequester carbon
64
Foidl N
Detailed analyses of 20 year old biochar recovered from Bolivian lowland agricultural soils
32
Free H
The effect of biochars on maize (Zea mays) germination
83
Fuertes A
Characterisation of chars produced from different carbonisation processes
44
Hatton B
Influence of biochars on nitrous oxide emission and nutrient leaching from two contrasting soils
71
Herbertson J
The carbon abatement potential and sustainability credentials of Project Rainbow Bee Eater
57
Joseph S
The reaction of soil with high and low mineral ash content biochars
75
Kameyama K
Estimation of net carbon sequestration potential with farmland application of bagasse-char: Lifecycle CO2 analysis through a pilot pyrolysis plant
68
Kisiki N
Carbonisation of empty palm oil fruit bunches using the hydrothermal method
46
Kookana R
Biochar addition to soils: Implications for pesticide persistence and efficacy
31
Krull E
Biochar: How stable is it? And how accurately do we need to know?
27
Lata R
Cadmium removal efficiency of sugarcane biochar: A comparative study
Lehmann J
Biochar: Science and policy
24
Macdonald L
A fundamental understanding of biochar: Implications and opportunities for the grains industry
45
Index of abstracts
First Author
102
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104 1 s t A s i a Pa c i f i c B i o ch a r C o n f e r e n c e 2 0 0 9
First Author
Paper
Page
McLeod M
Developing collaborative biochar research in Aceh, Indonesia
94
Manderson R
Maximising char yield from pyrolysis of low cost biomass
51
Maraseni T
Towards a faster and broader application of biochar: Assessing and recommending appropriate marketing mechanisms
96
Moxham G
Project 540: Low-emission, low cost biochar kilns for small farms and villages
53
Murphy A
OpenChar: Open-sourced biochar production technology
52
Namgay T
Influence of biochar on the availability of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn to maize (Zea mays L.)
30
Nguyen B
Temperature sensitivity of black carbon decomposition and oxidation
39
Ogawa M
Charcoal use in agriculture in Japan
61
Pari G
Production of charcoal compost from organic solid waste
47
Pigneri A
Opportunities and challenges for biochar/bioenergy systems in the compliance and voluntary carbon markets
Quirk R
The role for biochar in management of the agricultural landscape: A farmers perspective
77
Sinclair K
Productivity and nutrient availability on a Ferrosol: Biochar, lime and fertiliser
79
Singh B
Evaluation of laboratory procedures for the characterisation of biochars
38
Singh BP
Turnover of biochars in soil: Preliminary estimates based on two years of observation
29
Siregar C
Effect of biochar application on soil amelioration and growth of Acacia mangium (Willd.) and Michelia montana Blume
82
Smernik R
A simple method for determining biochar condensation
33
Solaiman Z
Effect of biochar on mycorrhizal colonisation in subterranean clover and wheat growth
89
Somerville M
Development of sustainable fuels and reductants for the iron and steel industry
60
Somerville M
Preparation of low volatile charcoal for liquid steel recarburisation plant trials
50
Srinivasan P
Retention capacity of three types of biochar for estrogenic steroid hormones in dairy farm soil
41
Takahashi T
Charcoal application for poultry farming
81
Tam H
Biochar research in sandy soils of central coastal Vietnam
92
Van Zwieten L
Agro-economic valuation of biochar using field-derived data
58
Van Zwieten L
Biochar holds potential for reducing soil emissions of greenhouse gases
74
Van Zwieten L
Nitrogen use efficiency improves using greenwaste biochar
87
Vencat K
Biochar: A people initiative
59
Waters D
Soil nutrient retention under biochar-amended broadacre cropping soils in southern NSW
86
Williams CM
Assessment of yield, salt tolerance and energy conversion of Arundo donax, a potential biochar and biofuel crop.
48
Yao F
Simulating the weathering of biochar with a Soxhlet reactor
42
Yamamoto G
A simple method for production of porous bamboo charcoal
49
Zhang D
Maximising environmental and economic benefits of biochar production using an innovative indirectly fired kiln technology
55
100