New Oz research on biochar-N cycling

Biochar-induced concomitant decrease in ammonia volatilization and increase in nitrogen use efficiency by wheat Abstract Ammonia (NH3) volatilization is a major nitrogen (N) loss from the soil, especially under tropical conditions, NH3 volatilization results in low N use efficiency by … Continue reading

New paper on biochar nutrient & pollution management

Biochar suppresses N2O emissions while maintaining N availability in a sandy loam soil Sean D.C. Casea, b, Niall P. McNamaraa, David S. Reayb, Andy W. Stotta, Helen K. Granta, Jeanette Whitakera, , a Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, LA1 … Continue reading

Royal Society – freshwater quality

The demise of New Zealand’s freshwaters: politics and science “Dr Mike Joy gives the 2014 Charles Fleming Lecture for the Royal Society of New Zealand as the 2013 recipient of the Charles Fleming Award for Environmental Achievement” The demise of … Continue reading

Mike Barton on N-capping

The following link has a 40min presentation from Mike Barton that is recommended viewing if you are interested in how nutrient capping may affect future agriculture activities in NZ. http://beeflambnz.com/news-events/News/2013/july/farming-with-nutrient-limits/ An important biochar related take from this presentation is how … Continue reading

Biochar as feed supplement

Opinion: Where is agriculture’s place in a low-carbon economy? One important focus area for biochar in NZ is water quality butting up against intensive dairy. Maybe this could be addressed in the future with more research on riparian margin biochar … Continue reading

Deep soils store up to five times more carbon than first thought: study

“Deep soils store up to five times more carbon than is commonly reported, a new study by Murdoch University and Cranfield University in the UK has found. Soil locks in greenhouse gases by storing carbon, making it a crucial player … Continue reading

Overseer and biochar

How will the application of biochar in NZ soils affect nutrient flows in farming and agriculture systems? How would these changes affect the assumptions used in Overseer? Maybe after further research in NZ on nutrient retention and the environment benefits … Continue reading