I want to compare its effectiveness (release rate, soil chemical conditions , etc.) against the chemical fertilizer. Test crop will be rice
Biochar from pyrolysis of biomass amended in soils to improve nitrogen use efficiency for enhancing crop productivity and mitigate climate change in agriculture has been well documented. However, application for soil amendment of biochar at high rates could be challenged with cost-effectiveness for small-scale household farmsUse of biowaste-converted biochars for organic/inorganic compound fertilizer can be an option to achieve high productivity and low carbon intensity along with saving N nitrogen fertilizer use in Chinese rice agriculture
As I understand,biochar need not be applied every year like fertilizer.From carbon sequestration point of view, biochar once applied should remain intact in soil for at least a few hundred years.Biochar need to be applied in several tons to get the required benefit (including water holding capacity).Fortifying a huge amount of biochar with fertilizers is a difficult proposition.How long the nutrient enriched biochar will supply nutrients-one year or several years?.If you apply biochar alone( without fortified nutrients),it may help in retension and release to plants of regular applied nutrients every year asper recommendation.If one applies small amounts(not so small) of biochar every year with fortified fertilizers,it may take several years to get the benefit of waterholding capacity or climate change mitigation.
Dear Robin, biochar as a soil amendment has deeply been discussed on Research Gate. I think you don't need a compound biochar fertilizer. You can compare biochar alone or with fertilizer with recommended fertilizer and other organic amendments, including compost, compost + biochar and co-composted biochar- compost. Prepare your own biochar, and then you can conduct a trial on biochar either in a greenhouse or field. These recent articles may be helpful for your plan.
Hello Robin Walter Wingwafi,
if you want to buy some biochar fertilizer, you can get it by the following link:
http://www.sonnenerde.at/index.php?route=common/page&id=
I have also a good contact for you. The researcher is Bruno Glaser. He researched in different biochar since several years and he has a really great experience in biochar. He is also on researchgate. Here is the link:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bruno_Glaser2
Hope I can help you.
BG
Dear Dr. Rao, it is always nice to read intellectual input provided by you in RG questions. It is surprising to now for me as a plant breeder that biochar need not be applied every year like fertilizer.From carbon sequestration point of view, biochar once applied should remain intact in soil for at least a few hundred years. It is interesting.
Dear Robin,
You can get ''compound biochar fertilizer'' from the following supplier:
Biogrow, PO Box 9232
Greerton, Tauranga 3142
New Zealand.
Ph: 07 543 9377
Mob: 021 447 478
Fax: 07 543 9387
Dr.Malhotra thank you for your comments.The following three papers may give some insights in to biochar use in agriculture.
The biochar dilemma by A.Mukherjee and R.Lal Soil Research,2014,52,217-230 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/SR13359
Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change Woolf D. et al.
Nature Communications / 1:56 / DOI:10.1038 / ncommunications1053 www.nature.com/naturecommunications. Open access
Why short-term biochar application has no yield benefits:evidence from field-grown crops.Jay,C.N. et al. Soil use and Management doi: 10.1111/sum.12181 2015
These papers may be available on reasearchgate.net
You may wish to see: www.ecosus.de reg. Terra-Preta-Products
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