NEWAPPBiochar market for soil

conditioning

Bárbara de Menattz Bremerhaven

NEWAPP WorkshopEUBCE 2015 Vienna - Austria

Contents

1. Biochar /Hydrochar: advantages for soil application

2. Biochar – Properties3. Biochar – Difficulties4. Hydrochar – Advantages5. Hydrochar – Difficulties6. Potential market: Substitution of peat7. Challenges and opportunities

2 /13

Biochar /Hydrochar

3 /13

• Most data so far refers to pyrolysis biochar (=„biochar“)

• Some data for hydrothermal carbonization char (=„hydrochar“)... But still research needed

Biochar /Hydrochar: advantages

• Both a significant, long-term sink for CO2 in terrestrial ecosystems

• Positive effects in reducing emmissions, and• Increasing the sequestration of GHG, and

• Application on soil delivers immediate benefits

4 /13

Biochar – Properties

• High cation exchange capacity

• Increases the soil water holding capacity

• Excellent habitat for microorganisms (micropores)

• Enhances mycorrhizal activity, which increases nutrient cycling

• Adsorption of heavy metals

• Reduction of leaching of nutrients

5 /13

Biochar - Difficulties

• Properties depend on feedstock and process

• Increases yields in degraged and low-fertility soils, not for already fertile sites

• Practical: Application without wetting can result in high losses

• Perceived as expensive

6 /13

Hydrochar – Advantages

• Less likely to deteriorate in storage

• Very high meso- and micro porous surface area

=increased water holding capacity

=promotes microbial colony growth

7 /13

Hydrochar – Difficulties

• Soil amendment with hydrochar has not been thoroughly researched

• Germination inhibition

• Different effects on soil microbial communities, depending on feedstock

• Avoidance behavior described in some invertebrates

8 /13

Potential market: Substitution of peat

• Peat dominates the market for substrates (average content 93%)

9 /13Source: Garten e.V., 2010

Potential market: Substitution of peat

Peat use in the EU:

- 22 Mm3 for professional horticulture (86% peat)-15 Mm3 for hobby gardening (69% peat)

More than 29 Mm3 of peat used yearly

10 /13

Substitution of peat: Economic dimension

High variability of prices depending on supplier, type, etc.

11 /13

Aiming at a replacement of just 15% (ca. 4,4 Mm3 ) for soil conditioning, the market

volume excedes 100 Mio. €

Challenges and opportunities

1. Challenges

• Development of standards (NEWAPP is working on this!)

• Detoxification of hydrochar (i.e. composting)

• Research needed in other areas

2. Opportunities:

• Increase soil fertility / Prevent leaching of nutrients

• Carbon sequestration

• Decrease GHG emmisions from soil

• Waste management strategy12 /13

Bárbara De Menattz Bremerhaven Fischkai, 127572 Bremerhavenemail: bdemena@ttz-

bremerhaven.deTel. : +49 47180934 153

Thank you for your attention!