case study 1; eb with mixed feedstock, minerals and acid activation potato farmers wish to decrease...
DESCRIPTION
Method of Making the Biochar 1.Make ash by taking the biochar from the pyrolyser at 350C, wet and add finely ground basalt and micro nutrients 2.mix and make into a fine slurry 3.then add clay 4.and then coat straw and chicken litter and allow to dry slowly 5.pyrolyse at 425°C-450°C 6.adjust pH to 7.5 with 50% solution of Phosphoric acid 7.Mix NPK and biochar and allow to stand in bag for 2 weeks.TRANSCRIPT
Case Study 1; EB with Mixed Feedstock, Minerals and Acid Activation
• Potato farmers wish to decrease their input of fertilisers, increase yields and also decrease loss through disease
• A new biochar with high mineral content was developed to enhance the efficiency of NPK fertiliser for growing seed potatoes
• Standard Fertilisation 7N;14P;14K at 778kg/ha• Replaced fertiliser with 5%, 10%,20% and 40% enhanced
biochar
Biochar Energy Systems (BES) Pty LtdLow Cost Open Source Transportable Trough Pyrolyser
Method of Making the Biochar
1. Make ash by taking the biochar from the pyrolyser at 350C, wet and add finely ground basalt and micro nutrients
2. mix and make into a fine slurry3. then add clay4. and then coat straw and chicken litter and allow to dry slowly5. pyrolyse at 425°C-450°C6. adjust pH to 7.5 with 50% solution of Phosphoric acid7. Mix NPK and biochar and allow to stand in bag for 2 weeks.
Material % Dry WeightWheat Straw 60%Poultry Litter 25%Bentonite/Iron Bearing Kaolinite 5%Basalt dust 4%Wheat Straw Ash 6%
Porous Structure and High Nutrient Content of Biochar
Results of Trials with Enhanced Biochar; 20 tonne/ha Improvement
97.5%NPK/2.5%BC
95%NPK/5%BC
90%NPK/10%BC
80%NPK/20%BC
60%NPK/40%BC
100%NPK/10%BC
Control
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
BIOCHAR TRIALBALLARAT 2013/14
TOTAL YIELD
YIEL
D (T
/HA)
Improvement in Saleable Seed Potatoes of 10% with 10% Biochar Replacement
97.5%NPK/2.5%BC
95%NPK/5%BC
90%NPK/10%BC
80%NPK/20%BC
60%NPK/40%BC
100%NPK/10%BC
Control
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
BIOCHAR TRIALBALLARAT 2013/14
PACKOUT PERCENTAGE
Results of Trials; Economics
• Farmer is only paid for the potato seedlings that are in the correct size range 120-150mm. The amount is given in the previous graph
• The amount earnt per hectare if 10% of biochar and 90% NPK is used is $23,100
• The amount received per hectare if 100% NPK is used is $14,000
• By replacing approximately 80kg of NPK with an enhanced biochar the profit could be as high as $9100/hectare
