NZ ETS comments

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The NZ Emissions Trading Scheme has been in operation since 2008 to mixed reviews. The government’s view seems to be generally positive, it having met our technical obligations to date. Much of the business and farming community probably support the govt position, as it has been designed (and subsequently gutted?) to ensure little impact to ‘business as usual’. The forestry and environmental sectors I’m sure have very different views.

You can see an earlier post related to this here: https://soilcarbon.org.nz/nz-post-2020-climate-change-target/

The govt has now decided that it is time to review the ETS. Its easy to be cynical about the post-COP21 timing but does this create an opportunity for the biochar community to get some day-light? MfE have issued a consultation document: http://www.mfe.govt.nz/consultation/new-zealand-ets-review-201516-consultation

From my look at the linked discussion document, opportunities around soil carbon sequestration have not even been framed in the discussion. So how does this square with our govt signing up for 4 per 1000? (see the post previous to this). I suggest we should take this opportunity to wave the flag. Can we put together a submission team? NZBRC student project? Can I inspire a comment from anyone?

There are 2 closing dates for submissions. There is not much time left to for the initial submission date (19Feb) but I suggest that the 2nd round submission opportunity is more appropriate for soil carbon comments (30 April).

NZ support for ‘4per1000’ (?)

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Healthy Ground, Healthy Atmosphere: Recarbonizing the Earth’s Soils

Nice article – a ‘must read’ if you are into soils. 

And NZ is a partner in 4 per 1000. This is strange based, on our current farming practices. So I wonder what our government has planned for the implementation or support for this world-wide ‘project’… not cheap carbon credits from Africa apparently, as I’ve read somewhere that foreign credits are no longer allowed?

Singapore Biochar workshop @ SET2016

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The 15th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies (SET 2016) will take place in Singapore from 19th to 22nd July 2016, hosted by the National University of Singapore (NUS). I’ve been collaborating with NUS on biochar development in Singapore and this has led to the following workshop. Closing date for SET2016 abstracts is 15 March. We are looking for international speakers for the biochar workshop and please spread the word on SET2016. You can see the full workshop program by clicking on the following link… http://set2016.chbe.nus.edu.sg/workshop_on_biochar.pdf

 

 

Biochar and hydroponic tomato production

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Modern Farmer magazine has picked up on a new publication on biochar coming from Sam Dunlop out of Massey. There online article is HERE

Closing the Loop: Use of Biochar Produced from Tomato Crop Green waste as a Substrate for Soilless, Hydroponic Tomato Production

Abstract

Greenhouse tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) producers are urged to reduce their environmental footprint. Here, the suitability of biochar produced from tomato crop green waste as a substrate for soilless, hydroponic tomato production was evaluated. Substrates containing different combinations of biochar (BC) and pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) sawdust (SD) were produced (BC0-SD100, BC25-SD75, BC50-SD50, BC75-SD25, and BC100-SD0) and characterized. The effect of these substrates on tomato growth, yield, and fruit quality was studied. Most of the measured properties of substrates containing biochar were suited to use as a soilless substrate. The electrical conductivity (EC) of substrates containing biochar was initially high (>4.6 mS·cm−1), but was easily reduced to <0.5 mS·cm−1 by rinsing with water before use. The pH of substrates containing biochar was higher than is considered acceptable for tomato production (7.5–9.3) but did not significantly (P < 0.05) affect any plant growth, yield, and fruit quality indicators measured compared with those of plants grown in pine sawdust. The results support the concept of creating a closed loop system whereby biochar produced from tomato crop green waste is used as a substrate for soilless, hydroponic tomato production, providing a sustainable means to support the growth of high-value food crops.

Biochar compost research from Europe

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Biochar amendment before or after composting affects compost quality and N losses, but not P plant uptake

Highlights

•Effects were different when biochar was added before or after composting.
•Biochar added in the feedstock mixture ameliorates the composting process.
•Adding biochar before composting reduced the GHG emissions.
•Adding biochar before or after composting did not change the plant uptake of P.
•P fertilizer replacement value of compost with or without biochar amendment was low.

Abstract

We investigated the use of biochar (10% on a dry weight basis) to improve the composting process and/or the compost quality by adding it to either the feedstock mixture or the mature compost. The addition of biochar to the feedstocks was essayed in a full scale trial using a mixture of green waste and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. Addition of biochar to mature compost was performed in a medium scale experiment. The use of biochar, even in small amounts, changed the composting process and the properties of the end products. However these effects depended on the time of application. We observed a faster decomposition in the bio-oxidative phase and lower greenhouse gas emissions when biochar was added at the beginning of the composting process, and a reduction in readily available P when biochar was applied during compost storage. Biochar as a means to increase the C content of the compost was only effective during compost storage. The P fertilizer replacement value of the compost with and without biochar was tested in a plant trial with annual ryegrass. While there was a clear effect on readily available P concentrations in the compost, adding biochar to the feedstock or the compost did not affect the P fertilizer replacement value.

New book chapter on biochar in NZ

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Research and Application of Biochar in New Zealand

  1. Marta Camps Arbestain ,
  2. James R. Jones,
  3. Leo M. Condron and
  4. Timothy J. Clough

– Author Affiliations


  1. New Zealand Biochar Research Centre, Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Private Bag 11222, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
    New Zealand Biochar Research Centre, School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Riddet Rd., Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand (J.R.Jones@massey.ac.nz)
    (Leo.Condron@lincoln.ac.nz), Dep. of Soil and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Farm Rd., Lincoln Univ., Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
    Bio-Protection Research Centre, P.O. Box 84, Lincoln Univ., Lincoln 7647, Christchurch, New Zealand
    (Timothy.Clough@lincoln.ac.nz), Dep. of Soil and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Farm Rd., Lincoln Univ., Lincoln 7647, New Zealand

Abstract

This chapter describes the research performed in New Zealand on (i) pyrolysis engineering (feedstocks, scale of pyrolysis, reaction design), (ii) biochar characterization (carbon sequestration value, fertilizer value), (iii) biochar carbon stability, (iv) biochar influence on N dynamics in soil–plant systems, (v) other uses of biochar in New Zealand (e.g., soilless agriculture and remediation of sheep dip sites), and (vi) environmental impact and barriers to adoption. We propose some priority research areas, which will mainly involve specific case studies where biochar may confer some advantages (e.g., vineyards and orchards) and some general science questions that should help attain a better understanding of the impact of biochar on specific soil processes.

CEC map of NZ

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Way back in June, I started a dialogue with Scion that led to the following information being provided by Graham Coker at Scion.

This link takes you to a higher definition, PFD of the CEC map.

CEC-NZ“Biochar could potentially be a productivity boosting amendment for sites with low Cation Exchange Capacity (<10). For example sandy forest soils or leached clays (Podzols).

The attached image indicates the national distribution of CEC across NZ. Note that only a fraction of these sites are plantation forests.

Challenges are:

  1. At what rate of biochar application is optimally economical? and operationally
  2. Incorporation within the soil 0-10cm is desirable but is it critically necessary?
  3. Over what time frames are beneficial responses expected? <5yrs or > 5yrs
  4. Benefit may be gained from combination of biochar within the addition of other site limiting nutrients to correct nutrient balance, perhaps these other nutrients are best foliar applied and then as they are return to the litter layer through loss of needle retention, can be re-captured by the biochar? 

The map was produced from publicly available data (Fundamental Soils Layer). Source: Landcare https://lris.scinfo.org.nz/layer/99Might be appreciated if you do something along the lines of-fsl-cation-exchange-capacity/ , mapped by Scion.

Thanks, Graham W.R Coker”

Graham has also offered his support to getting a biochar-forestry demonstration project underway. More on that soon I hope… we are trying to coalesce around this (biochar seed coating!)