Successful pot trials - rice, acid soils and biochar

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY

Effect of Rice-straw Biochar Application on Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Root Growth and Nitrogen Utilization in Acidified Paddy Soil

State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006, P.R. China 
Rice Research Institute of Guizhou Province, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550006, P.R. China

Abstract

"Soil acidification and low nitrogen (N) utilization efficiency are serious problems in rice production. Biochar has the potential to provide a liming effect and strong nutrient adsorption, leading to soil improvement. This study was conducted to investigate specific root traits in rice and to assess the effect of rice-straw biochar amendment on nitrogen efficient utilization in acidified soil. Addition of 20 g kg-1biochar and washed biochar significantly promoted rice growth and the yield increased by over 35% and 24%, respectively, when compared with the control. Application of equivalent lime did not increase the rice yield in either low or high N treatments. Biochar application alleviated soil acidity and improved the available nutrient content. Biochar maintained a high available N during the N depletion period by regulating N adsorption and release in the acidified paddy soil. Biochar or washed biochar amendment was found to significantly improve root growth when compared with the control, particularly root mass and adventitious root length. However, application of equivalent lime only significantly promoted the growth of root system before panicle initiation stage. When compared with the liming effect, the adsorption properties of biochar provided a persistent effect in improving acidified soil. Further studies on long-term effects of biochar addition on crop growth as well as its behavior in soil are required in future."
© 2018 Friends Science Publishers

Effects of biochar application on root traits: a meta-analysis

Effects of biochar application on root traits: a meta-analysis - Xiang - 2017 - GCB Bioenergy - Wiley Online Library

"Overall, biochar application increased root biomass (+32%), root volume (+29%) and surface area (39%). The biochar-induced increases in root length (+52%) and number of root tips (+17%) were much larger than the increase in root diameter (+9.9%); this result suggests that biochar application benefits root morphological development to alleviate plant nutrient and water deficiency rather than to maximize biomass accumulation. "

Read the full report from the link above.

Biochar industry development in China

Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2017 21:56:30 +0800
From: "Tom Miles" <tmiles@trmiles.com>
To: "'Discussion of biomass cooking stoves'"
        <stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: Re: [Stoves] Air pollution in cities

"China is making a substantial effort to reduce air pollution. We have just completed the "2nd China-Asian Workshop on Biochar Production and Application for Green Agriculture -From Technology to Viable Systems" at Nanjing University and the International Biochar Initiative Asia-China center. Scientists and companies from around the region attended. We visited plants converting straws, manure, and biosolids to biochar and biochar fertilizers. China has invested in many biochar plants in Northern China, primarily to reduce air pollution, improve yields and soil fertility, and sequester carbon. They are currently building about 50 biochar plants. They have located a biochar plant in each of several provinces. They have tested the biochar fertilizer products in the field at more than 300 sites with impressive results. They have set up farmer coops and businesses to collect and densify crop residues at harvest. The pellets are used to store the straw and improve the efficiency for the process used to make the biochar, recover oils and vinegars, and convert the biochar into fertilizers that can be used by local for fertilizers. They have methods to account for the sequestered carbon. They grow more food with less fertilizer while reducing air pollution and sequestering carbon. Last year they converted 200,000 tons of crop residues to biochar. This year they expect to convert 800,000 tons of crop residues to biochar and biochar products. That is expected to grow to three million tons within five years. It is profitable for the farmers and for the biochar fertilizer companies.

Organizations through the region will be working with the International Biochar Association to demonstrate ways to reduce are pollution from crop residues by converting part of the residue to biochar and biochar products to smallholders and large crop producers."

Tom (Miles, IBI Chairman)

More on biochar for wastewater industry applications

This looks interesting for the wastewater industry... The full publication is available from the linked title.

Bioremediation of Wastewater by Iron Oxide-Biochar Nanocomposites Loaded with Photosynthetic Bacteria 

Shiying He1 , Linghao Zhong2 , Jingjing Duan1 , Yanfang Feng1 , Bei Yang1 and Linzhang Yang1 * 
1 Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China, 
2 Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, Mont Alto, PA, United States 

"It has been reported that bacteria-mediated degradation of contaminants is a practical and innocuous wastewater treatment. In addition, iron oxide nanoparticles (NP) are wastewater remediation agents with great potentials due to their strong adsorption capacity, chemical inertness and superparamagnetism. Therefore, a combination of NPs and microbes could produce a very desirable alternative to conventional wastewater treatment. For this purpose, we first prepared Fe3O4/biochar nano-composites, followed by loading photosynthetic bacteria (PSB) onto them. It was found that Fe3O4/biochar nano-composites exhibited a high adsorption capacity for PSB (5.45 × 109 cells/g). The efficiency of wastewater pollutants removal by this PSB/Fe3O4/biochar agent was then analyzed. Our results indicated that when loaded onto Fe3O4/biochar nano-composites, PSB’s nutrient removal capability was significantly enhanced (P < 0.05). This agent removed 83.1% of chemical oxygen demand, 87.5% of NH+ 4 , and 92.1% of PO3− 4 from the wastewater in our study. Our experiments also demonstrated that such composites are outstanding recyclable agents. Their nutrient removal capability remained effective even after five cycles. In conclusion, we found the PSB/Fe3O4/biochar composites as a very promising material for bioremediation in the wastewater treatment. "

2nd China-Asian Workshop on Biochar... 18-21 Nov.

Co/ Tom Miles post here.... https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/biochar/conversations/messages/21651

2^nd China-Asian Workshop on Biochar Production and Application for Green Agriculture-from Technology to Viable Systems

First call

Following a successful meeting of the 1^st China-East Asian Biochar Workshop in October 2016, the 2nd China- Asian Biochar Workshop is scheduled to take place during November 18-21, 2017. The theme of the workshop will be Biochar Production and Application for Green Agriculture-from Technology to Viable Systems. The workshop is aimed to enhance a joint exchange and sharing of the biochar developments between China and Asian countries and beyond, and an access to novel biochar technologies and viable systems for safe recycling of biowastes for green development. The workshop will be organized in alignment with an IBI board meeting, a training and exhibition of biochar production from straw, green waste, municipal sewage sludge and livestock manure and biochar products of    novel biochar-based soil conditioner/ameliorator, bio-medium for flower/vegetable nursery as well as novel organic/inorganic biochar compound fertilizers. A number of internationally well-known biochar experts will be invited to give keynote speeches for emerging trends in biochar science, technology and applications. Together with these, a joint exchange and discussion will be arranged between the scientists, engineers and business people both from China and Asian countries and beyond.

The workshop is organized under the authority of China Asian cooperation project, the China State Agency of Foreign Expert Affairs and the Asian Hub of Michigan State University and Nanjing Agricultural University. And the workshop will be jointly sponsored by the Biomass and Biochar Green Technology Center, NJAU, the Asian Center of International Biochar Initiative (IBI), Jinhua Institute of Biochar Technology and Engineering as well as the hosting municipality. All the local costs will be covered for invited experts and waived for those from ASEAN countries who applied for waive (Application form attached).

The venue of this workshop will be in Wanda Hotel in Jinhua Municipality, Zhejiang Province, China, which is a green city with a fast growing bioeconomy. Transportation to the city is convenient. Air flights to Yiwu Airport, 45 km away from the venue, from Beijing, Guanzhou, Chengdu, Xian and beyond are available every day.

 

There are many high speed trains stop by Jinhua, from Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Nanjing and the surrounding big cities. Pick-up service at Yiwu and Hangzhou airports will be provided.      

We hope this workshop will be again a successful meeting for providing inspiring information of biochar production and application for green development, sharing the experience in developing biochar business and personae training for pushing biochar development in Asian countries and beyond.

We expect a number of Asian delegates up to 40, and of international experts up to 20 as well as up to China domestic delegates up to 50. A detailed program will be released both in website of IBI and our institute. Hereby I cordially invite you to make your responses and pre-registered by filling and sending back the attached registration form by July 31, 2017. An invitation letter for your visa application will be provided no later than 2 weeks after receiving your responses. For more detail, pls contact via emails to Genxing Pan: pangenxing@aliyun.com; or to Daisy Yu: 277814155@qq.com.

Looking forward to meeting you in Jinhua this autumn!

Yours sincerely,

Genxing Pan   潘根兴

Professor, workshop chair

Institute of Resource, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, NAU

cc: Wei Wei, Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, NAU

   Mr Houming Lv, Jinhua Institute of Biochar Technology and Engineering

Attachment: Preregistration form (next page)

Biochar training course & conference, Nanjing

“Following the success of the first and the second Biochar Training Course, The Biochar and Green Agriculture Center of Nanjing Agriculture University in collaboration with the University of Newcastle and University of NSW of Australia is announcing a third course to be held starting 16th April 2015. China now leads the world in the commercial production of both biochar and biochar technology. It has pioneered the development of combine NPK biochar granulated fertilizers.”

You can find details from this link to the course announcement and conference program.

Biochar Training Course - Nanjing Agricultural University

Announcement; The Third International Biochar Training Course held at Nanjing Agricultural University (NJAU) October 16th 2014

Following the success of the first training course the Biochar and Green Agriculture Centre of Nanjing Agriculture University in Collaboration with the University of Newcastle of Australia and the University of NSW is announcing a second course to be held starting 16th October 2014. China now leads the world in the commercial production of both biochar and biochar technology. It has pioneered the development of combine NPK biochar granulated fertilizers.

Report on the Second International Biochar Training Course held at Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University (ZAFU), Linan, Hangzhou Province, China, organized by Nanjing Agricultural University in collaboration with the University of New South Wales and Newcastle University (Australia), October 2013

Stephen Joseph, Helen Gould and Genxing Pan

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/biochar/conversations/messages/16167

The Second International Biochar Training Course held at Nanjing Agricultural University (NJAU)

Announcement from Dr Stephen Joseph...
"Following the success of the first training course the Biochar and Green Agriculture Centre of Nanjing Agriculture University in Collaboration with the University of Newcastle of Australia and the University of NSW is announcing a second course to be held in October 2013. China now leads the world in the commercial production of both biochar and biochar technology. It has pioneered the development of combine NPK biochar granulated fertilizers.

Participants meet with village women during field trip to look at biochar field trials

This will be an opportunity to not only meet some of China’s leading experts but also biochar researchers and practitioners from other regions. Participants will be able to view commercial businesses producing biochar, energy and biochar NPK fertilizers as well as run small and medium scale biochar plant at the University.

The aims of this training course are;
1) To provide a world wide overview of the biochar industry, research and development and policy setting.
2) To provide an overview of what is known and what is not known about;
a) properties of biochars and wood vinegar as a function of feedstock, process conditions and technology and
b) crop responses of different biochars, biochar/NPK mixes and enhanced biochars, incorporated at different application rates and different pre and post treatments in different eco-systems.
2) To provide an understanding of the principles and practice of pyrolysis and biochar production and application.
3) To provide tools that allows participants to develop enhanced biochars to match local soil requirements and meet plant nutrient needs.
4) To explore the use of biochar in land remediation, waste management and animal health
5) To provide a framework that allows the development and implementation of sustainable and self sustaining biochar projects and/or establish biochar businesses
6) To provide an interactive environment where participants can exchange information and experiences.

1. Location: Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

2. Dates: 9th October 2013

3. Duration and Format: Duration is 7 days....."

Hopefully, you can access the file attachment that further details this announcement from the following link:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/messages/14403?xm=1&m=e&l=1

PlanetStove: Hybrid Biochar Cooking Stoves

Check out this program for TLUD in China...


Video presentation: http://www.indiegogo.com/PlanetStove?c=home

International Training Course on Biochar Production, Testing and Utilisation

Nanjing Agricultural University in collaboration with the University of New South Wales and Newcastle University is considering holding an International Training Workshop if there is sufficient numbers of people who wish to attend. We are asking for expressions of interest.

1. Target Audience: This training course will target the following groups of people.

• Decision makers in organisations who wish to develop policies and programs at national or regional level,
• Project managers who are designing and/or implementing either R and D, demonstration of commercial projects
• Senior extension personnel in agricultural and low carbon technology sector
• Owners or senior executives who are or have set up an enterprise that includes the manufacture of biochar or biochar related products.

2. Location: Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

3. Timing: Sept 10th to 15th

4. Duration and Format: 6 days.
Lectures and discussion will be held in the morning and testing and practicals in the afternoon. A field trip to a pilot field trial will be organized.

5. Cost and numbers.
Participants from developing countries will not be charged a tuition fee but will have to pay their airfare, food and accommodation. Participants from developed countries and China are requested to pay a registration fee of EU350 for NGO’s and EU750 for commercial business and organisations. They are responsible for the airfare, accommodation and food. The registration fee is to cover cost of accommodation, airfare and food of trainers. A training certificate will be issued by the end of the course.
Maximum number of participants 30


For Course content and application details please refer to the following linked ...
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52700813/Nanjing_Training_Program_EOI.pdf

Professor Genxing Pan; gxpan@njau.edu.cn

Professor Stephen Joseph; joey.stephen@gmail.com

Biochar project proposals

One of the original requirements of the Yunnan Biochar study for FAO was the preparation of at least two biochar project proposals. As the study progressed, it became apparent that a broader approach was needed to represent the many, varied project opportunities that were ready for funding or under development. A total of nine project proposals have been submitted to FAO as part of the study...

1. Biochar Soil Trials in Cambodia - Testing an Optimization Tool for the Integration of Biochar into the Farming Energy System (UKBRC) 
2. Field Demonstration of Fast Pyrolysis Biochars (Black is Green Pty Ltd)
3. Solid biofuel for cooking purposes and biochar production in low-income households (UniKL MICET)
4. Cookstove Implementation in China and Cambodia - Who would Use Gasification Cook Stoves?: A Trial Deployment in China and Cambodia
5. Biochar and Rural Development in Thailand - Biochar as a Soil Amendment in Sustainable Rural Development in Thai Environments and Sub-cultures: Increased Crop Production for Smallholders through the Low Tech Production and Use of Biochar from Thinly Distributed Feedstock (Thai Biochar Initiative & UBI)
6. Producing Biochar to Reduce GHG Emissions from Hydropower Projects and Improve Village Livelihood: Lao PDR Case Study (Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand)
7. Phosphorus and Biochar Research in Malaysia - Biochar in Tropical Soils: Elucidating the Effects of Amendment Types on Fertilizer Phosphorus Dynamics, Soil Carbon Emission and Sequestration around the Kinabantangan River Area of Sabah, Malaysia (School of Sustainable Agriculture, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia)
8. Industrial Demonstration of Biochar in Yunnan: Industrialization and Agricultural Application of Biochar from Crop Residues and Animal Manures in Yunnan Province
9. Biochar from Natural and Planted Forest Residues in Yunnan: Proposal for Demonstration Project to Make Biochar from the Residues of Forest Products Processing.

It may take some time for FAO to digest all of these proposals and it may not be realistic to expect immediate funding. The project proposals are open to collaboration and support from other parties. To this end, please contact me if you are interested in receiving more information on any of the above project proposals. I will liaise with FAO regarding any participation on their part.

International Symposium on “Environmental Behavior and Effects of Biomass-derived Charcoal” held in Hangzhou, China

An international symposium focusing on the environmental behavior and effects of biochar was held in Hangzhou, China, from October 9–11, 2010. Approximately 80 people attended this conference, coming from China, Japan, North America, New Zealand, Australia and Europe. IBI Board Vice Chairman Stephen Joseph and IBI Executive Director Debbie Reed both attended, and made presentations at the symposium.

Presentations from the conference have been posted to the IBI website here.

Yunnan biochar study

Back from a week in Kunming, where we finalised an agreement with the Yunnan Green Environment Development Foundation (YGF) to provide local support for the study. They are a small NGO associated with the Yunnan forestry department. Kunming seems like a nice place to live. Wide, clean streets with lots of planting. Parks, lakes & rivers. The climate is moderate all year and air seems clean. The streets are very quiet... lots of motorbikes but almost all are electric... way ahead of the pack on this front.

All the hotels seem to offer good quality, free internet connections but one problem we have found is the indiscriminate blocking of websites. As an example this blogger site is not accessible. Nor is google sites, where we have located our project collaboration wiki. This problem should be considered before you set up sites, if you plan to collaborate in China. I was unable to access a number of other sites, including worldstove! I wonder how you get off the black-list or through the not-so-great firewall of China. Some trip photos...

Assessing Opportunities for Biochar in Yunnan, China and the Greater Mekong Sub-region

I have submitted the following announcement to IBI for their June newsletter:

Biochar Systems Ltd (BSL) and SaafConsult have commenced a biochar related study for FAO-RAP in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS) under the GMS Economic Cooperation Program. The objective of this study is to examine opportunities to use biochar for the benefit of rural communities with a focus on Yunnan Province, China. Yunnan is one of two southern China provinces in the GSM. A Yunnan based study participant organisation is still to be finalised.

Planned outputs from the study include a report, project proposals and a GSM workshop. The study group will be seeking biochar community support related to the preparation of proposals for follow-up projects that will be presented as part of the study. A further announcement will be made on this very soon.
Trevor Richards, BSL (febiochar@gmail.com)
Bryan Hugill, SaafConsult BV (bhugill@saafconsult.com)

Video from Rob Flanagan presentation - CBRC May 2010

Rob Flanagan has sent me these video links. 
In two parts to accommodate YouTube 10min limit...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pMud-NBUu0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxjxsw52nn8

Sad to say that that no one in China can access YouTube...