I have been reading articles about the beneficial use of biochar in agriculture in Bangladesh. Is the use of biochar equally beneficial to all types of soil? Would this be equally applicable to European farming?
The effect of biochar is physical chemical and biological in its effects. The biggest application is for tropical old acid infertile soils as the application in these soils is favorable chemically for its liming effect physically and biologically based on the improving aeration and moisture retention. In alkaline soils the alkalinity of the biochar can cause micronutrient deficiencies and that would have to be taken into consideration and in neutral soil it would be need to be adjusted not to create a too alkaline pH reaction.
Dear Kjartan,
please have a look into following publications:
Impact of biochar X soil on yields => Article Heterogeneous global crop yield response to biochar: A meta-...
Impact of biochar X soil on N2O emissions => Article Biochar, soil and land-use interactions that reduce nitrate ...
BR
Nils
Alaa Ibrahim Nils Borchard I am currently participating in financing a project where biochar is a bi-product of ND-TLUD ovens. The gasifier ovens have been my focus for since 1997 (Paal Wendelbo), but the information about the possible positive uses of the bi-product from the ovens, biochar, is new to me. I read the project of Islam and Winter https://www.biochar-bangladesh.org/the-akha-agriculture-friendly-stove/ and it seemed nearly too good to be true.
Kjartan hello,
Biochar is useful in all soil types.
The type of charcoal though must match the soil type and the intended symbiosis effect between plant's roots and bacteria/ fungi you are aiming for.
A leading scientist (and contact person) in this respect is Makoto Ogawa from Japan.
Japanese agriculture is closely linked to university research through the network of Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (農業協同組合 Nōgyō Kyōdō Kumiai, or JA). In Japan, biochar is often referred to as charcoal.
All farmers in Japan routinely use charcoal mixed with soil (usually in spring time) and the by-product of its production - charcoal vinegar (as an insecticide). They produce charcoal themselves in kilns, or with the aid of special funnel-like metal implements.
For more info please, read this:
www.biochar-journal.org/en/ct/75
www.publish.csiro.au/sr/pdf/SR10006
For direct advice on charcoal type vs. soil type suitability, you can also contact this institution:
http://jssspn.jp/Eng/society.html
Another interesting item:
http://www.unido.or.jp/en/technology_db/3039/
:)
Yes. Especially if you activate it with compost, vermicompost, or any other biofertilizer. See also the attached papers.
...just a response to Valeria Tananska => biochar may have also negative impact on soil properties, yields, soil health etc. Thus, biochar may also harm soil-plant systems; see also Article Application of biochars to sandy and silty soil failed to in...
.BR
Nils
Nils Borchard Bruno Borsari Valeria Tananska Alaa Ibrahim I have a discussion with one of my colleagues from Ghana. His family are farmers and he was wondering in which degree he can expect soil - with biochar vs without biochar - to preserve nutrition from biofertilizer/manure/compost? How often should he add biochar to his soil? How often does soil with regular use of biochar need biofertilizer/manure/compost?
Biochar use in agriculture embraces the idea that farmers are going to "feed" the soil biota rather than the crop, when they apply biochar. Therefore, the activation of biochar may be important to make the soil more hospitable to soil bacteria. Tropical soils are ochric (red/orange) in color because of high contents of Fe, Al, Zn ions, which become toxic to plants and lower the soil pH significantly. Therefore, just because biochar is alkaline its use on these soils should adjust the pH which will be conducive to better nutrients exchange between the soil matrix and the plants. It is difficult to answer the questions about: How often and how much? It depends also from what biomass the biochar is being made and whether this will be different in future uses or stays the same. Therefore, I I would suggest to start small! A vegetable garden could be the ideal scale of testing the efficacy of biochar use on the soil. Keep in mind that there are inevitably drawbacks when employing a new technique or technology. The paper I am attaching here is substantiating my last sentence in this reply. Good luck!
Nils, thank you. I will have a look at the article you have sent us.
In the meantime...
Bruno is correct, I believe.
A few more details to add.
I mentioned Japan for a reason. It has good variability in soil types across its islands.
Plus, they follow the maxim (which I also aspire to) that in order to take from nature, you must also give back - i.e. work more with nature. In this case - you must build live agricultural soil, to have long-term sustainable production with good quality crops.
Biochar renders soil less compact, retains moisture, due to its micro-porous nature, (as Bruno also meant) it provides a non-competitive environment for plant-root-beneficial bacteria and fungi to develop (and establish symbiotic relationship with the plant).
I am aware that Japanese (Chinese and Korean, at the very least) farmers use it once per year, at the beginning of the growing season.
When using wood, they make it in earthen kilns together (or for different types of biochar - separately) with regular charcoal. Big pieces of charcoal are used in animal husbandry and human houses, small pieces go into pressed products or agriculture.
In the case of rice chaff or bamboo, the process is a bit different.
My observation is that prevalent use in above and below ground vegetable production falls to charcoaled rice chaff.
The latter is often combined with beneficial bacteria and yeasts, the most effective combination of which, grown in a molasses-rich medium, is a Japanese scientist's discovery. The mixture in question is termed EM (effective microorganisms) liquid.
There are a few variants of it, depending on soil type and plants grown.
So, the Japanese agricultural producers mix biochar with regular soil, fish meal, okara (the protein-rich remains from tofu production), broad-leaf-tree mold (originally, taken during autumn months from forest grounds, propagated and nurtured on clean leaves over the winter months) or EM liquid before putting seedlings in the ground.
From there on, manure is applied (if I am not mistaken, Dr. Makoto Ogawa would know better) twice or thrice throughout the growing season (depending on the crop type), always based on observation (and lab testing if need be) of plant health.
I am an avid gardener (flowers, herbs and veggies), and thus, have researched the issue somewhat extensively (although Nils might prove me wrong - we acquire new knowledge every day :) )
Physicians also use biochar (but from the bark of particular trees) to fight food poisoning (and associated diarrhea, when present).
:)
Valeria Tananska Bruno Borsari Nils Borchard Alaa Ibrahim Your input is very valuable. I will share this and the articles you have suggested with my friend Abdul-Razak Kuyini Alhassan It seems we need to start experimenting. as soon as we can. We will report back.
Simon Jeffery et al (2017) answer this question. Kindly check details in their paper here:
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa67bd/pdf
The effect of biochar is physical chemical and biological in its effects. The biggest application is for tropical old acid infertile soils as the application in these soils is favorable chemically for its liming effect physically and biologically based on the improving aeration and moisture retention. In alkaline soils the alkalinity of the biochar can cause micronutrient deficiencies and that would have to be taken into consideration and in neutral soil it would be need to be adjusted not to create a too alkaline pH reaction.
Application of biochar on the soil helps in the reduction of offsite pollution. It increases the retention of nutrients like phosphorous and nitrogen in the soils, aid in decreasing the leaching of nutrients of soil in to the groundwater and helps in saving the nutrients from erosion due to the surface water flow......
www.omicsonline.org › open-access › benefits-of-biochar-on-the-agricu...
for some reading...
Atkinson, C. J., Fitzgerald, J. D., & Hipps, N. A. (2010). Potential mechanisms for achieving agricultural benefits from biochar application to temperate soils: a review. Plant and soil, 337(1-2), 1-18.
Ippolito, J. A., Laird, D. A., & Busscher, W. J. (2012). Environmental benefits of biochar. Journal of environmental quality, 41(4), 967-972.
Agegnehu, G., Bass, A. M., Nelson, P. N., & Bird, M. I. (2016). Benefits of biochar, compost and biochar–compost for soil quality, maize yield and greenhouse gas emissions in a tropical agricultural soil. Science of the Total Environment, 543, 295-306.
Yang, D. I. N. G., Yunguo, L. I. U., Shaobo, L. I. U., Huang, X., Zhongwu, L. I., Xiaofei, T. A. N., ... & Lu, Z. H. O. U. (2017). Potential benefits of biochar in agricultural soils: A review. Pedosphere, 27(4), 645-661.
Xu, G., Lv, Y., Sun, J., Shao, H., & Wei, L. (2012). Recent advances in biochar applications in agricultural soils: benefits and environmental implications. CLEAN–Soil, Air, Water, 40(10), 1093-1098.
D A Gayan Nayanajith Thank you for all your important input. I will start reading.
Biochar will be particularly beneficial for soils poor in organic substances (humus( and sandy soils. It will increase the retention of water, retain nutriments and stimulate the natural defense of plants
Jean-Pierre Jost Thank you for your input. Do you have experience with biochar and soil that is rich/compact with clay?
Kjartan Skogly Kversøy Biochar has alkali in reaction and its effect greatly seen when applied in acidic condition.
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