Biochar, chemical characterization, nutrient effects, dynamics and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Biochar, chemical characterization, nutrient effects, dynamics and preliminary plant growth tests

Munoo Prasad1,3*, Nikos Tzortzakis2, Nicola McDaniel 3

1Compost/AD Research & Advisory (IE, CY), Naas, Ireland 2Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food

Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, 3603, Cyprus

3Bord na Mona Research Centre, Main Street, Newbridge,

Ireland

 Biochar; a carbonaceous solid product of pyrolysis  Few material that actively removes carbon from the atmosphere  Suitable for a range of agricultural e.g. animal feed, environmental e.g. filter and horticultural e.g. growing media

 Peat is often the main component of growing media in Europe  40 million m3 is mined almost all in northern Europe. However the mining releases huge amounts of GHG.  Peat is the standard by which other growing media is judged.  But peat lands are important as C sink, source of biodiversity, affects local hydrology etc.  Biochar can replace peat at least partly and this is particularly attractive in S. Europe  Very little published work on the use of biochar as a component of a growing media

Peat

Objectives

• Chemically characterize 4 commercial biochar and compare them

with peat

• Effect of biochar addition on pH, EC and extractable nutrients on

peat biochar mixtures and nutrient dynamics

• Effect of addition of biochar to peat on germination and root

length, and short term plant growth as evidenced by biomass.

• Effect of addition of biochar to peat on nutrient content of plants

grown in peat/biochar mixtures.

• Evaluate CEN tests currently used for growing media as to its

suitability for peat biochar mixtures

Som Some para rameters rs of

• f biochar

biochars and and pea peat

Matrials pH EC K OUR mmol O2 kg

–1 OM hour

(μS/cm) (mg/L) A

6.58 55 25 1.1

B

9.55 410 671 2.6

C

9.51 638 990 2.3

D

9.51 652 891 4.4

Peat(No Fert.)

3.53 34 8 5.5

Ef Effect of

• f biochar

biochar addition ddition on

• n pH

pH of

• f pea

peat‐bi biochar

• char

mi mixtur ures es

Ef Effect of

• f biochar

biochar addition addition on

• n electric

electrical al conduct nductivi vity ty of

• f pea

peat‐biochar biochar mi mixtur ures

Ef Effect of

• f biochar

biochar addition ddition on

• n nitr

nitrate ca capt pture in in pea peat‐biochar biochar mixtur tures

Ef Effect of

• f biochar

biochar addition ddition on

• n ex

extracta table P in in pea peat‐ bi biochar

• char mixtur

ixtures

Ef Effect of

• f ro

root le length in in pea peat‐biochar biochar mixtur tures in in co comp mparison to to pea peat

Ef Effect of

• f bi

biochar

• char addi

dditi tion

• n on
• n plan

plant heigh height over

• ver

tim time in in re relation to to pea peat

Ef Effect of

• f bi

biochar

• char addi

dditi tion

• n on
• n lea

leaf N co conte ntent

Ef Effect of

• f bi

biochar

• char addi

dditi tion

• n on
• n lea

leaf P co conte ntent

Ef Effect of

• f bi

biochar

• char addi

dditi tion

• n on
• n lea

leaf K c K content

Ef Effect of

• f bi

biochar

• char addi

dditi tion

• n on
• n lea

leaf Zn Zn co conte ntent

Conclusion Conclusion

• All four commercial biochar/peat mixtures improved plant growth

relative to 100% peat as evidenced by germination, root length and biomass yield. However some performed better than others.

• The addition of biochar led to a decrease in Electrical Conductivity

and nitrate content(“nitrate capture”). These results are very significant in so far as EC of most non‐peat constituents derived from waste is the limiting factor in their use as growing media. The ability of biochar to act as anion exchanger has implication for reduction of pollution in intensive cropping e.g. horticulture

• The generally higher pH and higher K indicates the need for lower

rates of liming in peat/ biochar mixtures and thus saving in K fertilizer and limestone

• All four biochar showed greater biological stability than peat

indicating greater C sequestration than compost or peat when it ultimately end in soil.

Ackno Acknowledg ledgem emen ents ts

• Thanks are due to Austin Lanham, Dearbhail Ni Chualain and Colman

Hynes of Bord na Mona for their help.

Ef Effect of

• f biochar

biochar addition addition on

• n to

tomato mato plan plant we weight ht in in re relation to to pea peat