Biochar -Smart

Agriculture Adaptation

Productivity

Mitigation

Regeneration

DirectorMelissa.rebbeck@bigpond.com

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 and organic fertilisers

Dry Matter

Biochar

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)

Biochar Dairy Feeding Trial

Biochar affect on yieldwith Mara Seeds Biochar

Biochar affect on protein With Mara seeds biochar Reduce

Methane

Biochar affect on ICCCWith Mara Seeds Biochar

Non biochar property Martin

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.

4. Biochar and dung beetle burial

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

Melissa.rebbeck@bigpond.com https://climateagriculturalsupport.com/

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

VISIT THE TRADE EXPO