Jim Ippolito USDA-ARS-Northwest Irrigation & Soils Research Lab Kimberly, Idaho

Transcription

1 Biochar Uses and Potential Applications Jim Ippolito USDA-ARS-Northwest Irrigation & Soils Research Lab Kimberly, Idaho

2 Outline Whats and whys of biochar Biochar Challenges Increase plant yields? Improve soil fertility/supply plant nutrients? Sorb/sequester heavy metals? Improve soil physical status? Alter microorganism function? The above should provide ideas for practical applications

3 What is Biochar? Fine grained, carbon enriched product Biomass (e.g. wood wastes, crop residues grasses, manures, etc.) burned at low temps (typically ~ 500 o C) and anoxic conditions.

4 Why all the fuss over biochar? Terra Preta soils (dated between 450 BC to 950 AD)

5 Global Climate Change

6 Pioneering work was performed in Amazonia (terra preta soils) Now the question is: How will biochar react in other highly weathered or relatively unweathered (i.e. aridic) systems?

7 Can Biochar Improve Plant Yields?

8 Spokas et al. (2012). Biochar: A synthesis of its agronomic impact beyond carbon sequestration. Journal of Environmental Quality (JEQ). Doi: /jeq Summarized 44 previously published biochar articles Various biochar types/feedstocks; soils spanning the globe; various crops/trees (conifer, douglas fir) ~ 50% observed yield increases ~ 30% observed no response ~ 20% showed negative yield response

9 Corn Yield 2009 & 2010 Hardwood Biochar Biochar Biochar Biochar Treatment Corn Corn Yield 2009 (nd) Yield 2010 Mg ha -1 Mg ha -1 Control a Manure a Biochar b Manure + Biochar a Manure + Manure Biochar Lentz and Ippolito (2012). JEQ. Doi: /jeq

10 Ryegrass Yield Peanut-Hull Biochar (8% by wt) biomass yield (g m -2 ) A) p = 0,021 b,c a a,b c c 0 Control +Biochar +Compost +BC+Comp. + 2x Comp. Kammann et al. (2012). JEQ. Doi: /jeq

11 Can Biochar Improve the Soil Fertility Status?

12 Schomberg et al. (2012) Doi: /jeq biochars (40 Mg/ha) + SC soil NH 3 loss increased with high ph/ash content Sarkot et al. (2012) Doi: /jeq biochar (20 Mg/ha) + CA soil Caused N immobilization or acted like a slow release N fertilizer (trapped N in micropores) Hass et al. (2012) DOI: /jeq Chicken manure biochar (up to 80 Mg/ha) + VA soil Decreased S, K, P availability Increased Cu and Zn availability PO 4 leaching increased

13 Biochar Application Affects on Soil DTPA-Extractable Ni over Time Ippolito et al. Unpublished DTPA Ni (mg kg -1 ) w x Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 6 y z Biochar Application Affects on Soil DTPA-Extractable Fe over Time Biochar Application Rate (% by Weight) No Cu or Zn effect Biochar Application Affects on Soil DTPA-Extractable Mn over Time DTPA Fe (mg kg -1 ) x x y z DTPA Mn (mg kg -1 ) y y y z Biochar Application Rate (% by Weight) Biochar Application Rate (% by Weight)

14 Can Biochar Sorb/Sequester Heavy Metals?

15 Can Biochar Adsorb Solution Copper? Idaho Dairy Cow Population Dairy Cows (in thousands) Year (nass.usda.gov/quickstats/)

16 Copper Sorption Biochar Copper Adsorption ph 6 (1 month shaking period) Predicted Biochar Cu Adsorption = 42,330(1-e (1.78e-5*Cu Added) ) Cu Adsorbed (mg kg -1 ) Observed Cu Adsorption Predicted Cu Adsorption 1:1 Cu Adsorption Ippolito et al. (2012) doi: /jeq Cu Added (mg kg -1 )

17 Heavy Metal Reduction PL=poultry litter; TL=turkey litter; FL=feedlot manure; MD=dairy manure; SW=swine solids Uchimiya et al. (2012) doi: /jeq

18 Can Biochar Improve the Soil Physical Status?

19 Norfolk physical characteristics after 0 and 120 day laboratory incubation with 2% (w w -1 ) DCQ biochar (n = 4) Incub (d)* Soil BD (g cm -3 ) H 2 O content mm per 150 mm# 1.0 mm agg wt. 0.5 mm agg wt. control a 8.82a 3.08a 18.94a DCQ a 20.67b 3.46b 21.47b *Treatments leached with di. H 2 O four times #measured on day 6 after leaching Leaching pots Biochar in soil aggregate Novak et al. (2012). Adv. Biofuels and Byproducts; in-press

20 Ippolito et al. (2012). doi: /jeq Soil Moisture in Arid Soils

21 Soil Moisture in Calcareous Sand Brockhoff et al. (2010). Crop Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 102:

22 Does Biochar Alter Soil Microorganism Functionality?

23 Biochar Application Effects on Soil Bacterial Populations over Time Bacterial Population (Log CFU g -1 ) Month 1; (4.97) bc Month 2; (5.28) b Month 3; (5.91) a Month 4; (5.66) a Month 6; (4.78) c Month 12; (4.95) bc y z z z Biochar Application Rate (% by Weight) Ippolito et al. Unpublished

24 FAME Analysis 8 PC 2 (16%) % 1% 2% 10% PC 1 (66%)

25 Conclusions Biochar application is not a one size fits all Documented are: Yield increases, decreases, no change Positive or negative soil nutrient responses Positive or neutral soil physical changes Changes in soil microorganism functionality Niche, specialized markets might be the way to go: Impregnating biochar with inorganic fertilizer; herbicide/pecticide sorbent; blended with compost; potential control for invasives; contaminated site cleanup; etc.

26 Thank you Jim Ippolito, Ph.D. Research Soil Scientist USDA-Agricultural Research Service Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory Kimberly, Idaho Phone: (208)