Biochar -Smart
Agriculture Adaptation
Productivity
Mitigation
Regeneration
https://climateagriculturalsupport.com/
Research into Biochar Solutions
1. Biochar in the soil to reduce chemical N2. Biochar and organic fertilisers3. Biochar dairy feeding trial4. Biochar and dung beetle burial
Why
Agriculture's goal to reach $100 billion in farm gate output by 2030 (up from current $60bn in 2018). https://www.nff.org.au/read/6364/new-future-foods-focus-propels-agricultures.html
• Increased reliance on N and chemical inputs (less productive land)
• Soil microbiome dying – impacts animals, plants and humans (reduced soil carbon)
• Increased methane and N emissions• Increased soil, plant and animal health
risks and pests and diseases
Nitrous oxide has nearly 300 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. This means that avoiding the release of 1 tonne of nitrous oxide would be eligible to create nearly 300 carbon dioxide
equivalent offset units.
1. Biochar in the soil to reduce chemical N- Biochar under Lucerne and Phalaris
N Inputs
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
kg/h
a/m
on
th
Measured in the soil
A Fleurieu Farm
Chemical Biological
Only 10-40 % of N applied to crop or pasture is taken upSubstantial losses from denitrification, volatilisation, leaching, surface run off
2. Biochar and Organic Fertilisers
0
2
4
6
8
10
BioAg Control FFF Lawrie Co
mg/
kg
Total Bacteria across the soil treatments mg/kgI = sed
48
50
52
54
BioAg Control FFF Lawrie Co
Scal
e gu
ide
is 8
0
Microbial diversity measured across the soil treatments
1313.5
1414.5
1515.5
16
BioAg Control FFF Lawrie Co
mg/
kg
Carbon in the soil mg/kg across the various soil treatments
Biochar
0
500
1000
1500
BioAg Control FFF Lawrie Co
Kg/h
a/m
onth
N Fixation Net@ 25OC and 50% Field Capacity
Biochar
Biochar
Biological nitrogen fixation accounts for around 65% of the nitrogen used by crops
and pastures. The supply of nitrogen is inexhaustible, as dinitrogen (N2) comprises almost 80% of the earth’s atmosphere. The
key is to transform inert nitrogen gas to a biologically active form.
Atmospheric nitrogen can be transformed to ammonia by a wide variety of nitrogen-fixing
bacteria and archaea — for free.
The storage of nitrogen in the organic form prevents soil acidification
Biochar will build soil carbon by:
Increasing the FLNFB (Free Living Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria) by holding on to and supplying organic matter as food
Provide support for the microbial bridge, to enhance the flow of carbon from plants to soil
.Supporting mycorrhizal fungi development. The acquisition and transfer of
organic nitrogen by mycorrhizal fungi is highly energy efficient.
MF reduce nitrification, denitrification, volatilisation and leaching.
Whiteside et al. 2009
Biochar and CEC
• Biochar raises the CEC of the soil. • The CEC is a major factor affecting soil structure, nutrient availability
and soil pH. • Many of the nutrients used by plants are in the form of cations• The total of these 5 most abundant cations (calcium, magnesium,
potassium, sodium, aluminum) approximates the CEC. • Biochar raises the CEC of the soil
3. Biochar Dairy feeding trail
4 x dairys of 250 cattle
1 fed Agspand biochar 90ml/head/day
1 fed Soft Agriculture - Pty Ltd – Mara Seeds Pty Ltd
200gms/head/day
2 dairys without biochar
Measured 6 weekly milk yield, protein, fat, ICCC
compared with long term data across 4 dairies
Manure pH, and other properties
Soil health (burying biochar)
Economic benefit of feeding biochar
Biochar type Inclusion rate/COW
No. of Cows Daily rate Daily rate Monthly
rate 6 months Cost Total Cost 6 months
90ml 250 15000 ml 15 litres 450 litre 2700 litres $3500/1000litres $9,450
Agspand/Geoff 150gms 250 37500 gm 37.5 kg 1.1 tonne 3.375tonne $600/tonne
Mara feeds/Barry 300gms 250 75000 gm 75 kg 2.25 tonne 6.750 tonne $600/tonne $6,000
Total cost 6 months x 2
dairys$15,450
SA Milk and
Solidsinc/head/d
ay inc/day x 250 cows
$/day x 250 cows $ inc/month 6months
49c/litre milk 2 litres/day 500l/day $245/day $7,350 $44,100
$6.06/kg 0.008 kg/day 2.19kg/day $13.32/day $399 $2,398.72
Total inc income $46,499
Manure pH and ORP
The manure of Hutshison with biochar feeding had significantly low pH value and high ORP value (p<0.05). There was also a significant difference in the number of mineral elements found in the manure in later samples.
Biochar provides the opportunity to: Reduce dependence on N fertilisers
(reduce emissions) and others Fix N and sequester carbon in soils Reduce methane outputs Economic Benefit By feeding biochar to an animal in the presence of dung beetles all of the above can occur.
Summary
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The Australia New Zealand
Biochar Initiative Incorporated (ANZBI) is a not for profit
organisation inspired by the
International Biochar Initiative
that delivers education,
collaboration, networking and
lobbying services to its members
in Australia & New Zealand.
ANZBI is a collaborative group of
growers, scientists, engineers
and other stakeholders
interested in advancing the
understanding and application
of viable Biochar systems both
small & large scale.- ANZBC19, Oct 20 – 26 Green Triangle Region & Melbourne https://anzbc.org.au/
- Free User Report @ https://www.anzbi.org/- Draft Standards for comment
https://www.anzbi.org/standards/- Check out our Vimeo channel for some short videos
anzbi.organzbi.org//anzbi.org
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