Dr Pia Piroschka Otte is visiting NZ (again) and will be based in Otago University for about one month from 22 November. She has kindly provided a copy of a new research publication which can be shared upon request… Abstract … Continue reading
The challenges of anaerobic digestion and the role of biochar in optimizing anaerobic digestion a b s t r a c t “Biochar, like most other adsorbents, is a carbonaceous material, which is formed from the combustion of plant materials, … Continue reading
NZ links to this new publication, showing strong international collaboration. Nitrate retention by biochar: mechanistic insights by 15N tracing Kammann Claudia (1,3), Haider Ghulam (1), del Campo Bernardo (2), Mengel Jonathan (3), Schmidt Hans-Peter(4), Marhan Sven (5), Steffens Diedrich (1), … Continue reading
Is Agribusiness a ‘stranded asset’ class? Craig Sams comes up with some interesting numbers on carbon farming potential. The article has a Europe focus but should be relevant to NZ as well… NZ support for ‘4per1000’ (?) NZ ETS comments … Continue reading
New hope for tackling ash dieback as researchers claim charcoal treatment makes trees more resilient “A fungal disease that is strangling the life out of Britain’s 80 million ash trees could be thwarted by the discovery of a natural soil … Continue reading
http://www.businessawardseurope.com/vote/detail-new/the-award-for-environmental-corporate-sustainability-1/15785 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
I was on a couple of road trips in the North Island recently, talking to many different groups and folk about biochar. This has quickly led to two biochar-composting trials… 1 underway and the 2nd in the planning stages. Both … Continue reading
This looks relevant to biochar nutrient management in NZ pastoral farming. No access so can’t be sure that the nutrient focus includes N. Nutrient Transport in Soils Amended with Biochar: A transient model with two stationary phases and intraparticle diffusion … Continue reading
The molar H:Corg ratio of biochar is a key factor in mitigating N2O emissions from soil M.L. Cayuela, S. Jeffery, L. van Zwieten Highlights •An updated meta-analysis including 56 studies finds that biochar reduces soil N2O emissions by 49 ± 5%. •Field … Continue reading