Virgin Earth Challenge: How Goes It?

Virgin Earth Challenge: How Goes It?

Compost Tea vs EM vs Biochar - How to Set up a 64 Bed Garden Trial!

Climate farming connecting local action and global comprehension ...

Climate farming connecting local action and global comprehension in the face of climate change

Hans-Peter Schmidt, Ithaka Institute, presents on communication strategies for FAO during their recent webinar series: Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture (MICCA) Programme

This is based on their success with biochar implementation in Nepal. 

Biochar in horticulture in tropical Darwin

Biochar showing positive benefits for organic vegetable grower in Darwin

Check out the link to the 4-page report on biochar application in organic horticulture...

SkillCult on Biochar Catch Pits

Nepal, biochar, pumpkins x4

The "Nepal" label will provide more history on this research...

Fourfold Increase in Pumpkin Yield in Response to Low-Dosage Root Zone Application of Urine-Enhanced Biochar to a Fertile Tropical Soil

Abstract

A widely abundant and invasive forest shrub, Eupatorium adenophorum, was pyrolyzed in a cost-efficient flame curtain kiln to produce biochar. The resulting biochar fulfilled all the requirements for premium quality, according to the European Biochar Certificate. The biochar was either applied alone or mixed with fresh cow urine (1:1 volume) to test its capacity to serve as slow release fertilizer in a pumpkin field trial in Nepal. Treatments included cow-manure compost combined with (i) urine-only; (ii) biochar-only or (iii) urine-loaded biochar. All materials were applied directly to the root zone at a biochar dry matter content of 750 kg·ha⁻¹ before seeding. The urine-biochar treatment led to a pumpkin yield of 82.6 t·ha⁻¹, an increase of more than 300% compared with the treatment where only urine was applied, and an 85% increase compared with the biochar-only treatment. This study showed for the first time that a low-dosage root zone application of urine-enhanced biochar led to substantial yield increases in a fertile silt loam soil. This was tentatively explained by the formation of organic coating of inner pore biochar surfaces by the urine impregnation, which improved the capacity of the biochar to capture and exchange plant nutrients.

 

Farmers learn to make ‘biochar’ ‘tech

"TO reduce the trash generated by Cebu City daily, around 100 farmers and leaders were trained by the City Government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 recently on biochar technology."

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2016/11/27/farmers-learn-make-biochar-tech-511863

Bamboo plantation plans for Indonesia

This ABC radio report also mentions biochar production as a co-product for bamboo pole preservation.

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2016/11/bst_20161103_0635.mp3

Biochar action at Masarang foundation, Indonesia

The following link leads to a summary on biochar activities at Masarang. I'm a little late finding this but the action is ongoing...
http://masarang.nl/en/?s=biochar&ixsl=1
There are some strong links here to long term haze solutions.

“Nature conservation through collaboration with and development of the local population”

That is the mission of Masarang, our foundation in Indonesia, founded in 2001 by Dr. Eng. Willie Smits.
Masarang finds solutions for the most urgent global problems of our time: deforestation, biodiversity loss, climate change, poverty and underdevelopment.
More information about Masarang and Willie Smits
or see the film about
The solution of palmsugar and the village hub
Photo above: The Masarang mountain after a successful reforestation project of the Masarang Foundation, began in 2000.

The Warm Heart FC Trough

The Warm Heart FC Trough

The Warm Heart team has been developing a new type of flame cap / flame curtain (FC) biochar production unit. These are FC Trough units, which are defined as above ground FC units with a non-square, rectangular top aspect.
The general design was developed as a result of considering the easiest low tech way to pyrolyze a great variety of the feedstock types available to the small holders in developing countries, that is, with a minimum amount of processing &/or transportation of the feedstock beyond the initial harvesting.

Given this economy of effort/cost and the basic growth pattern of much potential feedstock, the design will be of interest to the small to medium low tech, distributed biochar makers in developed regions. These are derivatives of the original Japanese technology and are Top Fed Open Draft FC units and not to be confused with kilns since they do not fit the Standard English definition of kiln.
The Warm Heart team took the basic FC trough concept and, with the support of management, come up with a special FC Trough design which features reduced weight without sacrificing durability and without greatly increasing fabrication cost or difficulty.

This is accomplished by reducing the thickness of the firebox sheet metal and laying out the base and long sides as a single rectangular panel so that the sides are simply bent up from the central base section of the panel at the desired angle.

The ends are inverted isosceles trapezoids congruent with the outline of the bent base and long sides. They are welded on at right angles to the base. This lightweight fire box is cradled in a light weight supporting frame made of box iron (or square iron – iron bars with a hollow square cross section).
To further strengthen the unit and secure the firebox in place, four angle irons encircle the top of the unit with the downward facing arms on the inside of the unit and the opposite arms making the uppermost rim of the unit. Thus the firebox rim is sandwiched between the box iron cradle rim and the angle iron (See schematic details, photos 22 &23).
This basic concept will be referred to as the Warm Heart Trough design.

http://warmheartworldwide.org/new-type-fc-biochar-production-unit/

US Consulate General Chiang Mai Goes BioChar After Conference with Warm Heart

US Consulate General Chiang Mai Goes BioChar After Conference with Warm Heart: The US Embassy has declared that it will go fully BioChar after a conference today with Michael Shafer from Warm Heart introducing the facts and theory behind the burning technique, followed by a demonstration to officials and a training program for the gardeners at the embassy.

BBF newsletter - soil remediation

The latest newsletter features the following articles:  David Werner (Newcastle University) and Sarah Hale (Norwegian Geotechnical Institute) on ‘Biochar applications in sediment and soil pollution remediation’  and Richard Copley (livestock farmer from Lincolnshire) on ‘Climate mitigating cattle?’
http://www.britishbiocharfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Newsletter-September-2016.pdf

BIORICHAR - new product release from Malaysia

Theeba Manickam has been leading biochar research at MARDI for a number of years. It is great to see some commercial progress in Malaysia.



(not sure how to edit the video HTML to smaller screen size... try right click and 'full screen' to view)

Biochar technology for mine rehab - Philippines

http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/08/30/1618467/biochar-technology-mine-rehab

"Nickel mining companies Marcventures Mining and Development Corp. (MMDC) and Benguetcorp Nickel Mines Inc. (BNMI) have been given the green light by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to engage in a mine rehabilitation project using activated biochar technology. According to Marcventures vice chairman Isidro “Butch” Alcantara, the project is not only in compliance with the new policy direction of the DENR to rehabilitate mined-out areas, but also complements the Surigao nickel miner’s initiatives in providing sustainable, organic and environmentally enhancing livelihood activities." ...

Asia-Pacific Biochar Conference, Korea 19-23Oct

​

Date: 29 August 2016 at 15:57
Subject: 3rd Asia Pacific Biochar Conference (APBC 2016) Korea, October 19-23, 2016
To: 옥용식
Cc: Yong Sik Ok

Dear Colleagues,

The 3rd Asia Pacific Biochar Conference entitled “A Shifting Paradigm towards Advanced Materials and Energy/Environment Research” will be held in Cuncheon, Korea on October 19-23, 2016.

You can visit the APBC 2016 website (http://www.biochar.co.kr/) for more information.

Please find the attached APBC 2016 Flyer.

Please kindly share this announcement with your colleagues. We are looking forward to seeing you all at the APBC 2016, Korea!

Thank you very much.

On behalf of

Conference Chairman

Yong Sik Ok, PhD, Full Professor, Director

Honorable Ambassador of Gangwon Province

Korea Biochar Research Center

Kangwon National University, Korea

Wastewater treatment and biochar

The following article is relevant to wastewater treatment throughout SEA...
http://soilcarbon.org.nz/waste-water-treatment-and-biochar/

Kontiki biochar production in Vietnam

My thanks to Prof. Stephen Joseph for the following...

Producing biochar in kontiki in monsoon season lr2 from Trevor Richards

Biochar use for climate-change mitigation in rice cropping systems (Vietnam)

My thanks to Prof. Stephen Joseph who has sent me the following publication. Please let me know if you would like me to forward a copy to you...

Biochar use for climate-change mitigation in rice cropping systems

abstract 

This study estimated the climate change effects of alternative rice production systems in North Vietnam with different residue management options, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The traditional practice of open burning of residues (System A) was compared with the alternative of converting residues to biochar, which was returned to the same land area from which the residues were obtained (System B). Pyrolytic cook-stoves and drum ovens were assumed to be used by households to produce biochar, and the cook-stoves produced heat energy for cooking. The annual rate of biochar applied was determined by the amount of biochar produced from the straw and husk available. We assumed that agronomic effects of biochar increased with each annual biochar application until reaching maximum benefits at 18 Mg ha 1 , which takes eight years to be produced in pyrolytic cook-stoves and drum ovens. The largest contributor to the carbon footprint of rice at the mill gate, was CH4 emissions from soil, in both systems. Biochar addition reduced the carbon footprint of spring rice and summer rice by 26% and 14% respectively, compared with System A, in the first year of application. These values substantially increased to 49% and 38% after eight years of biochar addition. The climate effect of System B was most sensitive to the assumed suppression of soil CH4 emissions due to biochar application.

 Ali Mohammadi a, * , Annette Cowie a, b , Thi Lan Anh Mai c , Ruy Anaya de la Rosa a , Paul Kristiansen a , Miguel Brandao~ d , Stephen Joseph a, e, f

a School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia 
b NSW Department of Primary Industries, Beef Industry Centre, Trevenna Rd., Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia 
c Thai Nguyen University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen University, Thai Nguyen Province, Viet Nam 
d Division of Industrial Ecology, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE), KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden 
e Discipline of Chemistry, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia 
f School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia

Biochar & Agent Orange

Discussion here on biochar solutions for Agent Orange contamination in Vietnam...
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/soil-age/wyEdn2mpjaQ

More from Dr Paul Olivier in Vietnam

Transforming Biodegradable Waste, Integrating Plant and Animal Systems, Deindustrializing Agriculture, Reducing Carbon Emissions, Sequestering Carbon, Decommodifying Food and Restoring Biodiversity

By Dr. Paul Olivier, Dr. Nguyen Van Ket and Todd Hyman 

                  June 7, 2016                                       

This essay has seven major themes, as its title indicates. Small farmers transform biodegradable waste at the highest possible level, they closely integrate plant and animal systems, and they deindustrialize the production of food. These three strategies allow them to play a major role in reducing carbon emissions and in sequestering carbon. Furthermore, small farmers participate in co-ops that share and integrate waste resources and waste technologies. These co-ops also provide education and training, and they take care of all aspects of selling to consumers. With all of these elements in place, small farmers are then able to de-commodify the sale of food. Food is not just another commodity to be traded in the global marketplace. The market value of food should never be allowed to override broader issues relating to food safety, food security, the health of the environment and the biodiversity of our planet.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/22013094/Paper/Summaries/Summary.pdf

Biochar is a frequent subject throughout this report.

100 Projects for the Climate

This French initiative is helping support a number of biochar related projects. Three projects in the SEA region are revealed from a search on 'biochar' (nine in total)...
http://www.100projetspourleclimat.gouv.fr/en/#filters

Philippines: cook stoves
http://www.100projetspourleclimat.gouv.fr/en/projects/543-biocharintegratedsystem

Vietnam: gasifier technology
http://www.100projetspourleclimat.gouv.fr/en/projects/461-cu-khoi-guava-gasifier

Philippines: Project Eden
http://www.100projetspourleclimat.gouv.fr/en/projects/36-project-eden

They can all benefit from your votes...

Permaculture Research Institute - biochar

Tropical Orchard Establishment Practices and Concepts: Part 2 of 3

Biochar Production

We make a small amount of biochar yearly to be used in our nursery potting soil and applied to our garden beds. Biochar has been studied extensively over the past 25 years and has proven to be an effective soil fertility strategy, in particular in the tropics. We use two different biochar systems. The first is a cook stove called an Estufa Finca. This was developed by our friend Art Donnelly of SeaChar.org. The second is a larger retort kiln called a TLUD (Top-Lit Up-Draft) made of two 55 gallon metal drums.
Biochar is a fascinating soil amendment that inspires much disagreement and conversation. For us, we are mostly interested in leveraging the unique physical and chemical properties of biochar to reduce leaching of nutrients, improve soil structure, buffer our pH, and provide host sites for microorganisms. Biochar in general has a negative molecular charge which binds well to nutrients and it’s physical structure provides endless nooks and crannies for a diversity of microbial life to seek shelter from predators.
We primary use fruit tree and bamboo prunings for our biochar feed stock. We avoid nitrogen rich feed stock as this nitrogen volatilizes during the combustion process. After a burn, which can be seen in the following photos, the biochar is crushed and then charged. As the burn process removes most nutrients from the remaining carbon, it is most effective to soak the biochar in a nitrogen rich liquid. Typically we use effluent from our methane biodigestors.

An Estufa Finca cook stove is stocked and started. This highly efficient stove boils a gallon of water in under 10 minutes and produces biochar as a bi-product.

Turmeric is being processed on the stove to make a live-cultured soda and obtain a dried spice.

As the stove dies down, the combustion is stopped by dumping the contents into a quench bucket.

The biochar is then incorporated into our potting mix or worked into resting garden beds. Occasionally we apply this amendment directly to tree planting holes, in which case we apply ½ kilo per tree hole and top dress under the mulch another ½ kilo.
Overall biochar does not make up a huge part of our day-to-day work. I find it challenging to find the time and physical space for all the necessary harvesting, handling, and drying of feedstock. This year we will make 60 to 120 kilos of biochar for our gardens.

Akhmal Buanie: Innovative tech for charcoal production

Co/ the Borneo Post...

Superb winners from Sarawak
Akhmal Buanie: Innovative tech for charcoal production

"Akhmal Buanie was the first Sarawakian contestant to win over the panel in the fourth series of Superb in 2014 with his invention called the Biochar Pyrolysis.
Akhmal was one of 26 winners of Superb grants in the third and fourth phases that won a total of RM13 million – each taking RM500,000.
Titled ‘Biochar Pyrolysis – Innovated Technology For Charcoal Production’, Akhmal’s project involved the production of Biochar from industrial residues or other Biomass Energy sources using Pyrolysis Technology.
“As you know, Superb programme is a programme which provides initial capital to start up new and innovative businesses for Bumiputera youth who have new innovative business ideas which could be introduced or even be a hit in today’s market.
“I believed that I have a few new and innovative business ideas that I can bet on in the Superb programme.
“For that programme, I offered Superb my latest innovation, ‘Biochar Pyrolysis’ – Innovated Technology For Charcoal Production,” Akhmal said to BizHive Weekly.
Biochar Pyrolysis, he explained, is a technology that will improve and reduce the production cost of producing charcoal to as much as 60 per cent of the current cost using the traditional technology, a method which is still widely used by charcoal producers in Malaysia.
“The pyrolysis system that we adopted for the charcoal production will also produce better and cleaner charcoal compared to the traditional method,” he said, adding that the system is also environmental friendly as there is no smoke produced in the process.
Akhmal believes charcoal production will be more cost efferctive with better quality products while at the same time, the industry will be a green industry for the country if all charcoal producers adopted his technology.
On the progress and development of Biochar Pyrolysis, Akhmal shared that they have just completed their design and planning stage.
“We have rented a factory in Sejingkat Industrial Area for our future operation,” he enthused. “We will very soon start fabricating our own design (of) relevent machineries.”
With the funding from Superb, Akhmal is confident that they will surely be able to have a modern charcoal production factory capable of producing various types of charcoal/biochar products in the range of 10 metric tonnes (mt) per day.

“We hope to go further downstream, producing activated carbon and carbon-related products in the future,” he added.
Akhmal had advice to impart on those aspiring entrepreneurs looking to join the Superb programmes which is simply to “understand and know your product well.”
At the same time, participants are also advised to expand their knowledge base, gathering more information from whatever relevant resources they can think of.
As for those who believe that Akhmal can be of help to them and would like for him share his experience in Superb with them, he stresses that he is willing to do so and is always available to them in that regard."

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/04/24/start-ups-find-their-path-with-teraju/#ixzz49B3Q6NOO

Biochar and urban trees

The following link leads to my post to ABE website on a new article published by The Biochar Journal. The article is focused on temperate climate urban planting in Sweden but I think it is still highly relevant to urban tree planting in the tropics.

Click above to link: http://soilcarbon.org.nz/biochar-urban-trees/

Malaysia has some experience with urban biochar planting which has been highlighted in the past...
http://sea-biochar.blogspot.my/.../bandar-utama-history...

Singapore also has a strong history in urban tree research...
http://sea-biochar.blogspot.my/2016/01/biochar-gets-mention-in-singapore.html
http://sea-biochar.blogspot.my/2015/02/biochar-compost-and-tree-growth.html
http://sea-biochar.blogspot.my/2012/07/application-of-char-products-improves.html
http://sea-biochar.blogspot.my/2011/08/ibi-august-newletter-draft-big-sea.html

If you have any other stories related to urban biochar applications in the SEA region, then please get in touch. 

Thinking big about haze in Thailand

Michael Shafer, director of the Warm Heart Foundation offers some thoughtful comments on Thailand's version of the regional haze issue. I cut the following comments related to biochar from the article published by 'The Nation' newspaper. The full article is available here.

CP are The Charoen Pokphand Group


"...What might such a solution look like?

The problem is hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste corn stalk that farmers have no option but to burn in order to clear their fields for the next crop. CP can teach farmers how to turn their corn stalk into a valuable product: biochar. Biochar, a pure form of charcoal, is made using a process called "pyrolysis" that produces no smoke, no black carbon, and virtually no greenhouse gases. The production of biochar is also carbon-negative, meaning that it removes CO2 from the atmosphere, reversing global warming.

To encourage farmers to make biochar, CP can include the purchase of the biochar made from contract corn stalks in the same contracts as for the purchase of corn kernel.

CP also owns large pig farms where it has manure management problems. Biochar is an excellent absorbent, capable of absorbing huge quantities of pig urine. It also dramatically reduces smells by adsorbing the ammonia and other noxious gases produced by pig urine and manure that make it smell so foul. Conveniently, mixing biochar with pig urine and manure creates a very effective organic fertiliser.

At the start of a growing season CP can distribute the biochar fertiliser to farmers in lieu of distributing synthetic fertiliser as they often do now. The reduction in synthetic fertiliser costs will fund biochar purchases, while the biochar fertiliser will improve farmers' soils and yields because it provides many more benefits than synthetics, including the capacity to retain water. Biochar fertilisers have the added benefit that biochar "locks up" pesticides in the soil. This reduces the risk of toxins entering the food chain and reduces the amount of toxic run-off from fields.

Taking such a "life-cycle" approach - from field waste and manure to fertiliser and feed - CP joins the ranks of a corporate elite, companies that make environmental sustainability part of the way they do business, and distinguishes itself from the majority of companies that talk about the environment without making it part of business operations. Such public relations is literally priceless, because it cannot be bought, but will serve CP well as it deals with consumer pressure groups in Europe.

If CP offers such a solution to the "corn crisis", it secures all five of the values we seek to protect. Farmers continue to get corn contracts and now get contracts for biochar made from their corn waste. Public health improves because every tonne of corn waste that is "pyrolysed" keeps six kilograms of smoke from being released into the air. The economy of the North gets a boost because the poor have more money in their pockets which, being poor, they spend immediately. The Thai economy can continue to grow as consumers do not face higher meat prices, chicken exports do not fall, and thousands of jobs and billions of baht of economic activity do not move to Myanmar. Thailand sharply reduces its national carbon footprint as the reduction in field burning cuts black carbon releases and the rise in biochar production cuts GHG emissions and sequesters three tonnes of CO2 for every tonne of biochar produced.
..."
Michael Shafer is director of the Warm Heart Foundation based in A Phrao, Chiang Mai.


There is a overlapping story here for the annual haze issues emanating from forestry and plantation activity in Indonesia (some of it controlled by Malaysian & Singaporean interests). Check out 13 previous posts on the haze issue and its solutions here.

Mine tailing land restoration

How compost and cattle are restoring Coal Basin

This article may provide guidance on restoring damaged mining areas in our region.

Orion Magazine | Dirt First

Orion Magazine | Dirt First: Nurturing the busy life of soil is both a key to sustainable food production and a tool to turn back climate change.

This is a great read if you are into soil... not a comfortable read if you are a chemical farming advocate.

Pro-Natura newsletter

This Newsletter includes a table that lists 6 scientific publications on biochar impact on tropical crops in SEA region. Crops covered rice, cabbage, peanuts and cassava.

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/ef20ae4c3fdc09fc772db39fa/files/201603_Biochar_Pro_Natura_EN.pdf

More media coverage on WarmHeart Haze solution

Biochar: a profitable solution to Thailand’s haze problem

... "Why not develop a solution to the haze problem that turns waste corn stalks into a valuable product?

This is what Theerasak Charassrivisist, director of the Chiang Mai Provincial Energy Office, is doing. Theerasak is teaching farmers how to turn their corn stalk and corncob into "biochar" - a pure form of charcoal - using do-it-yourself technology. "Pyrolysed" corn waste produces no smoke, no particulates, almost no greenhouse gases and actually removes CO2 from the atmosphere." ...

Warm Heart shows a new way forward on haze issues

Could this be a pointer to wider solutions for haze in Indonesia? When plantations and commercial agriculture recognize the value the carbon in waste biomass then we may have found an economic, social and environmentally acceptable solution.



Some earlier posts on this...
http://sea-biochar.blogspot.my/search/label/haze

Version 2.0 of TLUD history

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paul Anderson psanders@ilstu.edu [biochar]
Date: 18 February 2016 at 14:39
Subject: [biochar] Version 2.0 of TLUD history is available
To: Stoves and biofuels network , "biochar@yahoogroups.com"

Dear all who are interested in TLUD stoves or their ability to make char,

The History of TLUD stoves documentation has been expanded and released as Version 2.0. The document now has over 30 photos / figures, and a much expanded bibliography. Be sure to see the Box (Figure 22 on page 22) that defines and names 24 "TLUD Pyroneers".

It is lengthy at 38 pages so that the historical details are well recorded for future generations. You can pick and choose the historical periods of interest, but do be sure to at least skim quickly the beginning and concluding pages that have comments on the current and future prospects for TLUD micro-gasification.

This link will always take you to the most recent version of the document. (earlier versions are still available at the Dr TLUD website with specific addresses).

www.drtlud.com/tlud-history

-- Doc / Dr TLUD / Prof. Paul S. Anderson, PhD Email: psanders@ilstu.edu Skype: paultlud Phone: +1-309-452-7072 Website: www.drtlud.com

Palm oil sustainability prioritisation survey (ARPOS)

I'm engaged with ARPOS on getting biochar into their, and the palm oil industry sustainability agenda. The email text below from Dr Rory Padfield is self-explanatory. Biochar and biochar related issues are included in the survey...

"Dear ARPOS members,

As some of you will be aware a project was launched last year to identify priority research questions for the study of palm oil sustainability. Following an initial workshop to establish the broad research themes (13 in total) held at the Corus Hotel in March 2015, a series of stakeholder engagement activities and an on-line survey resulted in 185 individual research questions submitted by stakeholders. Many of you kindly submitted your questions and also forwarded the survey to your palm oil networks.

We are now in the final stage of the research project where these 185 questions will be prioritized by palm oil stakeholders. This final stage is important since it will help us understand where we should be focusing our research efforts (activities, funding, academic debate, etc) to achieve palm oil sustainability. Furthermore, the result of this survey will help set the basis for ARPOS' 1st Research Strategy document. This will be presented at the ARPOS AGM in April 2016.

Thus, I wish to request your kind assistance to help with the following:

1) Please spend a few minutes to fill out the on-line survey yourself. The link is below.

2) Please circulate the survey (or this email) to your respective networks and/or individual contacts who may be interested to participate in the survey. Please note that this survey presents an opportunity for palm oil stakeholders to influence the direction of future research into palm oil sustainability.

On-line survey link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/palmoilpriority

Many thanks for your cooperation.

Best wishes,

Rory"

3rd Asia-Pacific Biochar Conference, 19-23 October

http://www.biochar.co.kr/index2.asp

Biochar research compilation from Indonesia and IRRI

Biochar for future food security: learning from experiences and identifying research priorities

FOREWORD
Biochar research started almost 20 years ago and there are already accumulated research outputs from various research groups from many areas, including improving soil health and plant productivity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, there are limited studies on the application of biochar in agriculture. Thus, there is a need to identify research gaps on technology development to maximize the potential of this promising agricultural material.

Along this line, the national workshop on Biochar for Food Security: Learning from Experiences and Identifying Research Priorities was held in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia on February 4 and 5, 2013. In this workshop, there were 15 presentations made of studies carried out from various fields from different organizations and 11 papers are published through this limited proceedings.

The first paper provides a summary of biochar research in the world, including its history and findings on various functions of biochar. The next paper focuses on the constraints to biochar production and presents a method of converting smoke into wood vinegar, which has a significant role in crop protection. There are two papers on the function of biochar and its effect on the physical and chemical properties of the soil and three more papers that show that the yield of some crops like maize and rice were improved by biochar. There are also three more papers that focus on the environmental benefits of biochar application such as mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and remediation of polluted soils caused by chemical compounds from pesticides. The last paper presents an economic evaluation of biochar application in the agroforestry-agriculture combined system and shows that biochar application improved farmers’ income despite the cost increase.
 
The papers presented in this document cover a wide range of biochar research areas in Indonesia, which shows promising prospects for sustainable agricultural production and better livelihood. It is hoped that this limited proceedings will contribute to future agricultural research on technology development in Indonesia.
 
Keiichi Hayashi
Project Coordinator/Soil Scientist, IRRI-Japan Collaborative Research Project on Climate Change Adaptation in Rainfed Rice Areas (CCARA), IRRI
Martin Gummert
Senior Scientist, Postharvest Development, IRRI
Dr. Zulkifli Zaini
IRRI Representative and Liaison Scientist, IRRI-Indonesia Office

Contents
The role of  biochar and prospects for its use in rice production in Southeast Asia (Keiichi Hayashi)
 
Biochar for forestry and agricultural production (Gustan Pari, Han Roliadi, and Sri Komarayat)

Application of biochar produces changes in some soil properties (Ainin Niswati)
 
Changes in water retention, water use efficiency, and aggregate stability of sandy soils following biochar application (Sukartono, W.H.Utomo, W.H. Nugroho, and Suwardji)

Evaluating the effects of biochar on N absorption and N use efficiency in maize (Widowati, W.H. Utomo, B. Guritno, and L.A. Soehono)

Nitrogen fertilizer requirement of maize (Zea maysL.) on biochar-treated soil (Wani Hadi Utomo and Titiek Islami)

Use of biochar to improve soil characteristics and increase rice yield in swamplands (D. Nursyamsi, E. Maftuah, I. Khairullah, and Mukhlis)

Gas emissions from the production and use of biochar in the peatland of Kalimantan (Abdul Hadi, Abdul Ghofur, Annisa Farida, Triharyo Subekti, and Dedi Nursyamsi)

Evaluation of the effects of activated carbon on POP insecticide residues in mustard in Central Java, Indonesia (Elisabeth Srihayu Harsanti, Asep Nugraha Ardiwinata, Sri Wahyuni, and Dedi Nursyamsi)
 
The role and use of activated carbon in the agriculture sector to control insecticide residues (Asep Nugraha Ardiwinata and Elisabeth Srihayu Harsanti)

Economic analysis of biochar application in agroforestry systems (Rachman Effendi)

Vietnam B4SS Project

A visit to the Starfish website (http://starfish-initiatives.org/) lead me to Biochar for Sustainable Soils (B4SS) Project  and then on to two projects is SEA:


VIETNAM – B4SS PROJECT PROFILE

INDONESIA – B4SS PROJECT
(profile coming - working with an existing network of 1,750 small-scale women farmers with dryland cropping systems to improve soils affected by the 2004 tsunami).

Singapore Biochar workshop @ SET2016

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

"This workshop plays two important roles. Firstly, it formalizes the development of a Singapore-based biochar interest group and network that involves a wide range of stakeholders; yet, this network has an international relevance and reach, this serves as a connection platform for local stakeholders with regional and international networks, including the International Biochar Initiative. Secondly, it aims to highlight the kind of challenges faced in developing the knowledge base and applying biochar to the various industry contexts in Singapore."