BIOCHARBurn & Learn

Workshop

Biochar Workshop Agenda

• What is Biochar?• Markets & Uses• Biochar & Climate Change• Characteristics & Benefits• Comparison with other soil

amendments• Triple Bottom Line• Biochar Opportunities in

NYS• Feedstock • Producing Biochar • Application Methods

The Carbon Family

Charcoal Biochar Activated Carbon

Feedstock Hardwood, sawdust+ Binding Agents

Ag, forestry & other organic materials/waste

Coconut shells, peat, coal, petroleum pitch

Common Uses

Fuel (Cooking) Soil AmendmentRemediationFiltrationBinding Agent (livestock)

FiltrationOdor ControlRemediationBinding Agent (humans)

Relevant Qualities

BurnabilityLow smoke

Adsorption/Porosity CECSequestration

Adsorption

Cost $ - $$ $$ $$$

Production Slow Pyrolysis;Kiln

Slow Pyrolysis;Kiln;Gasification

Pyrolyzed at 600 – 900C + activated at 250C ORChemically impregnated & cooked @ 450 – 900C

Carbon Footprint

Carbon Neutral: May lead to Deforestation

Carbon Negative (in many situations)

Carbon Positive

Bulk

Water

soil functions

Biochar’s Soil

Function Impacts

pH

Bulk

Den

sity

Water Holding

FiltrationN

-P-K

Adds stable carbon to soils which stays insoil for hundreds of years. Other OM additions (e.g. manure, compost) bio- degrade in a few years. OM provides energy & nutrients to plants, stabilizes soil structures, improves resistance to erosion. Increased OM

Most biochars have a strong surface charge (i.e. CEC) which helps hold nutrients in the soilwhile still making them available to plants. Soils enriched with biochar will need less fertilizer and will have less nutrient leaching thereby pre-venting eco-system damage.

extremely light weight & highly porous giving it very low Bulk Density (BD). Soils with

high BD (e.g. highly compacted soils) have poor root growth, low aeration and inefficient water filtration. Biochar added to compacted soils helps improve these soils functions.

Biochar is

improves bioactivity which improves resistance to disease & pests

Due to biochar’s highly porous and stable nature, It provides an ideal environment for microbes. The amount & diversity of microbial activity in soils is a measure of its quality withhigher activity indicating better soil.Adding biochar to compost speedsup the decomposition process due to Increased microbialactivity.

.

Biochar made from certain types of feedstocks such as poultry litter has material amounts of N-P-K. Biochar made from woody biomass generally does not have any significant N-P-K.When combined with nitrogen fertilizer the efficiency is improved resulting in higher yields and requiring less fertilizer use.

Due to the large size of the pores (macro- pores) and its stability within the soil, biochar can provide a long term positive impact on soil water holding capacity. In sandy soils in particular, biochar can increase water holding capacity by as much as 50% at high application rates

The sorptive properties (i.e. ability to attract and hold) of biochar help it to render toxins unavailable to plants. Biochar can help filter storm water and is useful in remediation efforts where toxic chemicals are found such as mine land remediation, fracking, chemical spills, etc.

Most biochars are

alkaline and will therefore help to reduce soil acidity and reduces short term liming needs. For alkaline soils, biochar may have no appreciable impact on yield. Maintaining proper soil ph improves nutrient efficiency and enables strong plant growth.

MicrobialActivity

Possible Benefits & Uses in Dairy Operations

1. 1% biochar addition into feed as binding agent• Improve feed conversion ratio• Reduce methane emissions• Reduce odors from manure

2. Combine biochar with manure • Retains more nutrients during composting• Stable C and enhanced nitrogen cycling• Reduces nutrient leaching into eco-system

3. Use in anaerobic digestion to boost methane production

4. Filter dairy wastewater5. Used as bedding material6. Neutralize toxins from footbaths (e.g. copper)

biochar & dairy

biochar uses

biochar & viticulture

Possible benefits & uses in viticulture

1. Reduced seasonal inputs (e.g. carbon additions)

2. Improve yield consistency within a vineyard or block.

3. Improve hydraulic management of water drainage and water holding capacity of soil.4. Boost YAN.5. Enhance cation exchange capacity and nutrient retention.6. Promote beneficial microbial activity in soils and pathogen suppression7. Healthier root growth and transplant vigor.8. Less labor intensive vineyard floor management9. Better aggregate stability, buffering capacity, bulk density and reduced compaction.10. Neutralize toxins in soils.

biochar uses

The Built Environment

Building Materials

Asphalt

3D Printing

biochar uses

Renewable Energy

Biomass Energy

Anaerobic Digestion,

Microbial Fuel Cells

biochar uses

Charamics

Sustainable Packaging

Filtration

Micro-Beads

biochar uses

mitigation & adaptation

Carbon Sequestration

Renewable Energy

Methane Reductions• Livestock • Landfills

Reduced Fertilizer Use

Waste Upcycling

Soil Resilience

Green Roofs

SustainableAgriculture

Food Security

Water Efficiency

Disaster Recovery

Building/Infrastructure

Vegetation Management• Fire Control• Invasive Species

how biochar can help climate change

making biocharPyrolysis & Gasification

biochar characteristics & benefits

Climate ChangeMitigation

AgriculturalBenefits

Remediation

C/N RatioRecalcitrance

Carbon Content

NutrientspH

Ash Content Surface AreaBulk Density

Metals Content

Particle Size

CEC/Adsorption

Production Variables:• Feedstock

• Equipment Type• Temperature

• Ramp & Hold Time

Use Variables:• Purpose (CC, Ag, Rem)

• Application Rate• Soil Type• Climate

• C Sequestration• GHG Reductions• NOX• CH4

• Manure Management• Livestock Nutrition• Nutrient Retention• Soil Fertility• WHC

• Restoration • Filtration

Impact Biochar Peat Moss

Com-post

Coir Perlite Vermi-culite

Permeability M-H L-M x X H H

Water Retention H VH L H

Improves Soil Aeration x x x x x x

Increase Organic Material x x x x

Reduces Nutrient Leaching

x x x x x

Provides Sterile Growing Medium

x x x x

pH Alkaline 3.6 – 4.2 varies 5.2 – 6.8 7 neutral

Longevity Decades++ 1 yr 1 yr Several years

Decades++ Decades++

GHG emissions Decreases Increases Neutral Neutral Neutral – Increases?

Neutral – Increases?

Nutrient Value varies minimal varies varies None None

Eco-system impact from production

Neutral - Positive

Negative(mined)

Neutral - Positive

Neutral - Positive

Negative(mined)

Negative(mined)

May containasbestos

Source Waste biomass

Peat bogs Waste biomass

Waste biomass

Volcanic ash

Mined silica

Comparison of biochar with other amendments

BIOCHAR’STRIPLE

BOTTOM LINEPLANET PEOPLE

PROFIT

SUSTAINABLEGROWTH

COSTSAVINGS

GREEN JOBS

ECO-EFFICIENCY

FOODSECURITY

CLIMATECHANGE

MITIGATION &ADAPTATION

ECO-SYSTEM

SERVICESHEALTH

Soil resiliency, H2O filtration, etc.

Industrial Ecology

Waste Optimization

Energy, tipping fees

RESILIENTREGIONAL

ECONOMIES

ithaka institute for carbon intelligence Research | Education | Consulting

biochar opportunitiesin new york state

• Agriculture • Green Waste• Disaster Recovery• Landfills • Sewage Treatment• Invasive Species

feedstocks

Source: K. Wilson for World Bank

application methods

Manure Spreader

Around Trees

Deep Banding

any questions?