The compost path

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I have no specific experience or special understanding of compost but I do recognize that compost is going to be a very important future pathway for biochar to the soil. It is easy to find plenty of research pointing toward the many mutual benefits for mating compost production with biochar ‘activation’ (accelerated compost process; reduced emissions (gas & leachate); reduced odour and pests; improved nutrient retention; biochar charging with nutrients and biology; biochar application pathways). Thats a long list of proven benefits but they will remain as ‘claims’ needing validation in NZ before we see any uptake here. ABE are in discussion or working with about 5 different composters in NZ, trying to get field trials moving. They range from large and small commercial organic compost producers to conventional farmers and gardeners.

It would we great to see more activity on this. Anecdotal trials are an easy starting point… the science will follow (I hope). We can arrange supplies of biochar or guide small scale compost producers on making their own.

It would be good to get some feedback on this or the article below (which does not seen to say much about biology… or am I misreading)

Municipal Compost as a Nutrient Source for Organic Crop Production in New Zealand

Abie Horrocks *, Denis Curtin, Craig Tregurtha and Esther Meenken
Sustainable Production Portfolio, The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Lincoln, Canterbury 7608, New Zealand
*
Correspondence: Tel.: +64-3-325-9435; Fax: +64-3-325-2074
Academic Editor: Francesco Montemurro
Received: 27 April 2016 / Accepted: 17 May 2016 / Published: 20 May 2016

Abstract

: About 1% of New Zealand farmland is managed organically. Nitrogen is the nutrient most likely to limit organic crop production. A potential solution is incorporation of compost to supply N. About 726,000 t of municipal garden and kitchen wastes are sent to landfills annually. Composting offers a means of reducing the impact of landfill wastes on the wider environment. Organically certified compost (N content typically 2% to 2.5%) is available from some municipal composting plants. To be effectively used on organic farms, the rate of N release (mineralization) must be known. Laboratory incubations were conducted to quantify mineralization of compost N under controlled (temperature and moisture) conditions. Nitrogen availability and crop yields from a one-off application of compost (25–100 t·ha−1) were also assessed in two field trials (using cereal and forage crops). The results suggested that a relatively small part (13%–23%) of compost N was used by the crops in 3–4 years. Much of this was mineral N present at the time of application. Mineralization rates in the laboratory and field studies were much lower than expected from published work or compost C:N ratio (considered an important indicator of N mineralization potential of composts).

Rethink needed on cutting agricultural emissions

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This press release should be of interest to NZ biochar community. Our response in NZ seems quite narrow – we have sunk a lot of effort into NZAGRC but maybe stopped looking at other ideas. Why not broaden the picture… look at our wider agriculture systems, searching for new ways to tackle this issue. Dr Kerr’s comments question our focus on animal based farming. But maybe we can rethink this to incorporate animals into a more diverse, carbon farming solution. The Savory Institute has some ideas for this but maybe not so relevant for NZ soil status. Did we invent industrial rotational grazing?

It would be great if some of our current crop of industry focused soil scientists and advisors looked at the bigger picture, painted here by Dave Montgomery. His book is dirty but riveting read.

How about a little NZ research focus on what Doug Pow is doing in WA (check out the update in the comments). We are keen (and trying) to get similar field trials going in NZ.

 

New book on biochar

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“The Soil Science Society of America promotes good science and practice related to soils and believes that the application of biochar materials offers promising solutions to agricultural and environmental concerns like climate change, soil health, and water contamination,” says Harold Van Es, president of the Soil Science Society of America.

May 6, 2016 – The Soil Science Society of America has published “Agricultural and Environmental Applications of Biochar: Advances and Barriers.” According to the editors, Mingxin Guo, Zhongqi He, and Sophie Minori Uchimiya, “this book aims to push forward the practical use of biochar by recognizing the gap between biochar research and application and pinpointing the barriers to field uses of biochar. Fifty-seven international scientists and professionals active in biochar research and application were invited to contribute.”

Discover the mechanisms and processes of biochar amendment for achieving stunning agricultural and environmental benefits. Agricultural and environmental communities are looking to biochar for enhancing soil carbon sequestration and crop productivity, but practical applications are elusive. Accomplished international researchers present a whole picture of biochar in improving soil quality, reducing soil greenhouse gas emissions, and decontaminating stormwater and mine sites. Composition and characteristics of biochar, its interactions with contaminants and soil constituents, and its transformation in the environment are addressed. Readers will appreciate the comprehensive review of the latest biochar research and applications and gain critical guidance in best biochar generation and use.

“The Soil Science Society of America promotes good science and practice related to soils and believes that the application of biochar materials offers promising solutions to agricultural and environmental concerns like climate change, soil health, and water contamination,” says Harold Van Es, president of the Soil Science Society of America.

The book retails for $160, and can be purchased http://www.societystore.org

Research proposal to retain soluble Nitrogen in pasture soils

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RESEARCH PROPOSAL TO RETAIN NITROGEN IN PASTURE SOILS – Use of No-tillage to apply biochar into pasture root zones

New Zealanders are waking up …  to the environmental costs & unintended consequences of intensive dairy farming practices, in particular intensively managed grazing by ever increasingly large herds of cows producing huge volumes of urine & manure.  Understandably, many dairy farmers are quick to react to ‘finger wagging’ gestures, name calling (“Dirty Dairying“), re eutrophication of surface waters, & nitrate contamination of groundwater / artesian drinking water supplies.

It’s easy to understand the anxiety & fears of concerned environmentalists who accuse farmers. Similarly, it’s equally easy to empathize with how hurtful & or unhelpful it may feel for farmers who believe that they are have been adopting many practical measures to work within legal & social restrictions, including planting trees & grasses on riparian zones, & using complex computer models of on-farm ‘nutrient budgets’, in order to remain economically & ecologically ‘sustainable’, … working within the environmental capacity of their soils & water resources to assimilate agricultural nutrient inputs (fertilizers) & animal excreta.

In context, there is a long history of persistent arguments between ‘rural’ (non-point source polluters), vs. ‘townie’ (point source polluters), often resulting in delayed practical actions over who is most to blame for the degraded water quality of our rivers, lakes & coasts. However, on a few rare occasions, riparian-focused land & water user groups, including both dairy farmers & environmentalists, have begun to work with, rather than against each other, by sharing a single common goal, i.e. protection of water quality, in order to enable people to enjoy swimming, fishing & boating, as well to provide drinking water for humans & livestock  http://www.landcare.org.nz/News-Features/Features/Future-of-Agriculture  Does this rare phenomena hint at the possibility of a future where our society may share a different ‘world view’ (i.e. a paradigm shift), where rivers & lakes are acknowledged or recognized as an ‘entity‘, …entitled to the same rights of environmental protection as those humans, livestock & fish who use or inhabit that water resource? Naa mate, ya must be dreaming!

The preliminary results of recent research into the capacity of biochar to adsorb nutrients, (including Nitrogen & Phosphates), is beginning to reach the attention of farmers who are actively looking for additional innovative tools such as a Tracked Impact Crusher to improve the the retention of on-farm sources of so-called ‘problems’ (‘waste-products’) to be viewed as valuable (‘by-products’), … by enabling the use of biochar together with the capacity of plants (pastures, arable crops & tree ) to re-use & recycle nutrients, whilst also reducing financial costs & un-necessary annual application of fertilizer inputs.

The following research proposal was presented at Rotorua in June 2015, Land Use Opportunities Symposium, along with many other informative presentations & resulting debates by scientists, farmers, plant nurserypeople & bee-keepers http://www.rotoruanz.com/do-business/key-investment-sectors/land-use-opportunities-symposium/ .

To date (May4th 2016), 11 months since my initial presentation of this research proposal, I have received verbal support from a wide range of farmers & public, however, as yet there has been no practical start on using no-tillage seed drills to apply biochar into pasture root zones, in order to capture cow urine patches, or to avoid, remedy or mitigate against off-farm nutrient losses   http://www.rotoruanz.com/RNZ/files/4c/4c955e8f-a9d6-4d17-b169-81efed3a4926.pdf?ext=.pdf

Where to next? I would be happy to receive your email suggestions to mycorrhiziz@gmail.com

Biochar Horizon 2025

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BIOCHAR HORIZON 2025 – by Hans Peter Schmidt & Simon Shackley, (2016) book chapter in Biochar in European Spoils and Agriculture 

Summarizes the progress of biochar science & applications in agricultural practices.  From historical assessment of lessons learned & progress made to date, it makes informed predictions of what may be on near future horizons during the next decade of farmer & environmental practical interest & applied sciences regarding biochar production and uses in animal feed, compost & application to soils.  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301294848_Biochar_Horizon_2025

Combining Biochar and Organic Amendments

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Combining biochar and organic amendments; Claudia Kammann, Bruno Glaser and Hans-Peter Schmidt
Published as Chapter 6 in: Simon Shackley, Greet Ruysschaert, Kor Zwar and Bruno Glaser
(editors): Biochar in European Soils, Routledge, London, 2016, pp. 136-164
see: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301295876_Combining_Biochar_and_Organic_Amendments
This chapter summarizes of the historic context of the relatively recent re-discovery of the nutrient holding capacity of biochar, & it’s enduring potential to capture nutrients & thus enable plants to re-use nutrients otherwise leached / lost from the uppermost soil layers.  It describes how biochar associated with ancient European sites of charcoal production, binds onto organic matter associated with centuries of forest leaf litter, agriculture crop residues & animal manures. The optimal placement of biochar within soils is examined from an ecological perspective that root zones (or ‘rhizospheres”) and soil aggregates are biodiversity & energy enriched ‘hotspots’

Biochar & urban trees

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Another great article from the team at the Biochar Journal…

Planting Urban Trees with Biochar

by Bjorn Embrén

“Urban trees face various challenges which frequently lead to high tree mortality, shorter lifespans and increased maintenance cost. To improve tree health and survivability the Swedish capital Stockholm has been testing and refining the use of structured soils and biochar for nearly 10 years. These structured soils consist of gravel mixed with smaller soil amendments such as peat, sand, clay, lava and more with great success: biochar.  In some cases 6 year old trees planted in structured soils with biochar were five times larger than 30 year old trees planted using more traditional urban tree planting techniques. …”

urban trees

Biochar conference session in Queentown?

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Prof. Marta Camps from NZBRC has circulated notice on an important opportunity for the NZ biochar community to engage with what should be one of our most important allies… the NZ Society of Soil Scientists. Looking at the usual list of key sponsors (below link), it is a surprise to me that we have a foot in the door… maybe this highlights the growing science consensus around the world that biochar can and should be having a place at the table regarding important issues facing the world (climate change, water management, environmental pollution, food security).

Possible Special Session on Biochar at the NZASSS Conference – Queenstown, NZ, Dec-2016

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Camps, Marta <M.Camps@massey.ac.nz>
Date: 3 May 2016 at 08:05
Subject: Possible Special Session on Biochar at the NZASSS Conference – Queenstown, NZ, Dec-2016
To:
Cc: “Balwant Singh (balwant.singh@sydney.edu.au)” <balwant.singh@sydney.edu.au>, “Clough, Timothy (Timothy.Clough@lincoln.ac.nz)” <Timothy.Clough@lincoln.ac.nz>
Dear Colleagues

Thank you for the many responses regarding the possibility of having a session on Biochar at the NZSSS conference we have had since yesterday morning. We would like to clarify that the special session topics have not yet been set, but if there were lots of abstracts on biochar, the Scientific community may decide that it is warranted a special session. We would like to encourage as many of you as possible to submit an abstract to make this happen. Thank you in advance.

Kind regards,

Marta Camps Arbestain, Massey University

Balwant Singh, University of Sydney

Tim Clough, Lincoln University