Grape Marc Biochar Mix- Effects on soil structure, water efficiency and fertilizer productivity

Transcription

1 Science Grape Marc Biochar Mix- Effects on soil structure, water efficiency and fertilizer productivity Romy Zyngier, Wendy Quayle, Hamish Creswell, Antonio F. Patti, Timothy Cavagnaro

2 Outline 1 Research Objectives 2 The Product 3 The Experiment 4 The Results and Discussion 5 Future Research 2

3 Research Objectives Investigate the relationship between char physical and chemical properties and plant/soil biology Evaluate grape marc feedstock Char application rates Reducing irrigation and fertilizer requirements Crop productivity Changes to soil physical and chemical properties 3

4 The Product 4

5 Background Biochar impacts on the soil and plant systems are determined by: 1. Biomass feedstock & pyrolysis conditions 2. Application rate 3. Method of incorporation 4. Soil type 5. Local climate 5

6 Grape marc feedstock 70% Seeds 30% Skins & vine 6

7 Char mix production The conditions of pyrolysis and feedstock directly influence the chemical and physical structure of the resulting char (Encinar et al. 1996; Joseph et al. 2010; Barrow 2012) Continuous flow pyrolysis 350 C 400 C 450 C 500 C 7

8 The Experiment 8

9 Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area NSW, Australia 9

10 Key Research Question Can char additions reduce irrigation and fertilizer requirements on a red-brown sandy loam? 1. Soil physico-chemical properties 2. Crop response 10

11 Challenges of a Red-Brown Sandy Loam 1.Low-moderate in organic matter 2.Rapid slaking - surface crusting 3.Poor aggregation 4.High bulk density Total C % Total N % C:N Ratio OM ph 1:5 H 2 O EC ds/cm ECEC cmol + /Kg ESP BD m 3 /m <

12 Field Design FP BLOCK 1 BLOCK 2 BLOCK 3 FP HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL HALF FULL Char Rate 0 t/ha 0.25 t/ha 1 t/ha 20 t/ha HALF = Half irrigation = 2.02 ML/ha FULL = Full irrigation = 3.87 ML/ha FP = Farmers Practise Rainfall for the period = 46.8 mm 12

13 The Results 13

14 Standardized Product Definition and Product Testing Guidelines for Biochar that is Used in Soil (International Biochar Initiative, 2012) Germination Inhibition Assay Triticum aestivum (wheat), Lactuca sativa (lettuce) and Raphanus sativus (radish) Earthworm Avoidance/Toxicity Test Eisenia foetida 14

15 Standardized Product Definition and Product Testing Guidelines for Biochar that is Used in Soil (International Biochar Initiative, 2012) Requirement Criteria BC 350 BC 400 BC 450 BC 500 FIELD MIX Moisture (%ad.) Declaration Organic C Class H:Corg 0.7 maximum Total Ash Declaration Total N Declaration ph (1:20; W:V) Declaration EC (µs) Declaration

16 13 C Solid State NMR Seed only Composite GM BC Pulp Composite GM BC 16

17 Scan Electron Microscopy (SEM) 350 C 450 C 500 C 17

18 Crop development (20 t ha -1 ) 10 days 15 days 21 days First flowering First fruiting 60 days 18

19 End of harvest 19

20 Crop response P < Yield (t/ha) Half Irrigation Full Irrigation Char Application rates (t/ha) 20

21 Crop response P < 0.05 Char Application rates (t/ha) 21

22 Irrigation Vs. Fertilizer: Control Plots 22

23 Plant tissue nutrient status at harvest 7.00 Total N (%) HALF FULL Adequate level N % P % K % Total P (%) FP Biochar Application Rate (t/ha) HALF FULL Total K (%) Walsh & Beaton (1973) HALF FULL FP Biochar Application Rate (t/ha) FP Biochar Application Rate (t/ha) 23

24 On going and future research Changes to soil physical properties Water Holding Capacity (WHC) Hydraulic conductivity Changes to soil chemical properties Nutrient availability and leaching Changes in the soil carbon pool 24

25 Summary Feedstock moisture and pyrolysis temperature heavily influence the resulting char product Mix of partially charred material with biochar may be advantageous for maintaining/enhancing Recalcitrant C Microbial and plant available nutrients 25

26 Thank you Dr. Wendy Quayle Dr. John Hornbuckle Leo Zandona Roy Zandona David Smith Alison Fattore Dr. Stephen Joseph Associate Professor Tony Patti Dr. Timothy Cavagnaro Dr. Priscilla Johnston Dr. Jessica Drake 26

27 Biochar amendments to agricultural soil may prove a key tool in the rehabilitation of degraded land and play a major role in the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) 27

28 Char amended soil chemistry 0 t/ha 0.25 t/ha 1 t/ha 20 t/ha FP OM % P < ECEC P < ph P < N % P < NH 4+ P < P < 0.05 NO - 3 P < P < 0.05 Colwell P - P < P < Presentation title 28th February