Rice growing, biochar trial in Thailand

Gordon Hirst has sent me a link to a Facebook page that is recording a 5-year rice growing field trial in Thailand which includes biochar.
https://www.facebook.com/onetonperrai/

The page needs an introduction to set the scene but if you scroll to the start (3 July 2017), you can review progress via video posts and trial records...

"A field experiment using both a biochar fertilizer/ soil enhancement and SRI (system of rice intensification) to attempt to double the yield of a working farm, from 500 Kg/Rai to 1000 Kg/Rai. The farm is paddy rice farm located in Nakhon Ratchasima province ten Rai (1.6 Ha). The experiment will last for five years"

Biochar research from Papua New Guinea

Great to see biochar research coming from Papua New Guinea...

Effects of biochar, urea and their co-application on the nitrogen mineralization in soil and growth of Chinese cabbage crop

Ruth Baiga and Rajashekhar Rao BK*

Department of Agriculture
The Papua New Guinea University of Technology
Private Mail Bag, Lae 411
Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea
Tel: +675 4734464, Fax: +675 4734477

* Dr. Rajashekhar Rao B.K., E-mail: rsraobk@rediffmail.com

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to study the influence of biochar material on N mineralization pattern from the soil applications of kunai grass (Imperata cylindrica) biochar (at 0 and 10 t ha^-1) and laboratory grade urea (0, 200 and 500 kg N ha^-1) and their co-application to an acid soil. The results of incubation study showed that biochar only treatment and co-application with urea at 200 kg N ha^-1 could impede transformation of urea to NH₄⁺-N. Soil application of biochar together with urea 500 kg N ha^-1 produced the highest NO₃^--N and mineral N concentrations in the soil over 90 days. In a parallel study performed under greenhouse conditions, Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis L.) crop showed highest marketable fresh weight, N uptake and N use efficiency in soil treated with biochar along with urea at 500 kg N ha^-1. However, soil incorporation of biochar only or combined application with urea did not offer any short-term agronomic advantages over mineral fertilizer only at 200 or 500 kg N ha^-1.

Biochar-compost mixture as amendment... oil palm seedlings (Malaysia)

Biochar-compost mixture as amendment for improvement of polybag-growing media and oil palm seedlings at main nursery stage | SpringerLink

Results

"Biochar, compost, and biochar-compost amendment improved polybag media’s chemical properties (pH, total C and N, C:N ratio, CEC, Mg, and Ca). There were no significant effects of the amendments on shoot biomass. However, root growth and shoot:root ratio significantly improved with 1.5% w/w C addition and 30% (v/v) compost with 75% recommended fertiliser rates applied. Furthermore, nutrient leaching measurement indicates that, EFB biochar significantly reduced ammonium-N leaching up to 21–46%."

Conclusions

"Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of biochar and compost co-application to improve the chemical properties of polybag medium and root development of oil palm seedlings."

Effect of biochar and biodigester effluent in Lao PDR

Effect of biochar and biodigester effluent on yield of Taro (Colocasia esculenta) foliage

Bounmay Bouaravong, Nguyen Nhut Xuan Dung¹ and T R Preston²

Plant Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Savannaket University, Savannnaket province, Lao PDR
bbounmay@yahoo.com
¹ Cantho University, Vietnam
² Centro para la Investigación en Sistemas Sostenibles de Producción Agropecuaria (CIPAV), Carrera 25 No 6-62 Cali, Colombia

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate effects ef soil amendment with biochar and biodigester effluent on biomass yield of Taro.  In the first experimemt, five levels of biochar (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 kg/m²) were applied to Taro grown in 3*3m plots according to a completely randomized (CRD) design with 4 replicates. All plots were fertilized with biodigester effluent at the rate of 50 kg  N/ha. There were linear increases in yield of Taro leaves and petioles, and in their content of crude protein, when biochar was applied to the soil at levels from 0 to 2 kg/m². Soil fertility as measured by pH, water-holding capacity and nitrogen content was increased linearly according to the level of biochar.
In the second experiment, five levels of biodigester effluent  (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 kg N/ha) were applied to to Taro grown in 1*1m plots that had been amended with 2 kg/m² of biochar. Applying biodigester effluent at levels up to 100 kg N/ha resulted in linear increases in biomass yield and in crude protein content of leaves and petioles and to increased soil fertility as measured by pH, water-holding capacity and nitrogen content.

The amazing news from Nepal keeps coming...

More stunning stuff from Hans-Peter and the team working in Nepal...
"We recently published a new paper about using field made biochar as nutrient carrier achieving average yield increases of 100% with concentrated root zone application of only 1 t biochar per ha. Demonstrating the new method in 21 field trials with 13 different crops seems quite consistent and we hope to trigger new experiments and farmer adaptations  in what might become a breakthrough in agronomic biochar use. I attach the paper wishing you an inspiring read, 

Yours, Hans-Peter"

BIOCHAR-BASED FERTILIZATION WITH LIQUID NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT: 21 FIELD TRIALS COVERING 13 CROP SPECIES IN NEPAL

Hans-Peter Schmidt 1 * , Bishnu Hari Pandit 2 , Gerard Cornelissen 3,4, Claudia I. Kammann 5
1 Ithaka Institute for Carbon Strategies, Rue de l’Ancienne Eglise 9, CH-1974 Arbaz, Switzerland 
2 Ithaka Institute for Climate Farming (IICF), Ratanpur, 33900 Tanahu, Nepal 
3 Institute for Environmental Sciences (IMV), University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Akershus, As 1432, Norway 
4 Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI), 0806 Oslo, Norway 
5 WG Climate Change Research for Special Crops, Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Hochschule Geisenheim University, Von-Lade-Str. 1, Geisenheim D-65366, Germany 
Received 27 January 2017; Revised 15 May 2017; Accepted 29 June 2017 

ABSTRACT 

"Biochar produced in cost-efficient flame curtain kilns (Kon-Tiki) was nutrient enriched either with cow urine or with dissolved mineral (NPK) fertilizer to produce biochar-based fertilizers containing between 60–100 kg N, 5–60 kg P2O5 and 60–100 kg K2O, respectively, per ton of biochar. In 21 field trials, nutrient-enriched biochars were applied at rates of 0·5–2 t ha 1 into the root zone of 13 different crops. Treatments combining biochar, compost and organic or chemical fertilizer were evaluated; control treatments contained same amounts of nutrients but without biochar. All nutrient-enriched biochar substrates improved yields compared with their respective nobiochar controls. Biochar enriched with dissolved NPK produced on average 20% ± 5·1% (N = 4 trials) higher yields than standard NPK fertilization without biochar. Cow urine-enriched biochar blended with compost resulted on average in 123% ± 76·7% (N = 13 trials) higher yields compared with the organic farmer practice with cow urine-blended compost and outcompeted NPK-enriched biochar (same nutrient dose) by 103% ± 12·4% (N = 4 trials) respectively. Thus, the results of 21 field trials robustly revealed that low-dosage root zone application of organic biochar-based fertilizers caused substantial yield increases in rather fertile silt loam soils compared with traditional organic fertilization and to mineral NPK or NPK-biochar fertilization. This can be explained by the nutrient carrier effect of biochar, causing a slow nutrient release behaviour, more balanced nutrient fluxes and reduced nutrient losses, especially when liquid organic nutrients are used for the biochar enrichment. The results open up new pathways for optimizing organic farming and improving on-farm nutrient cycling."

Low-Cost Biochar Application in Tanzania Shows Astounding Increases

http://dailycoffeenews.com/2017/07/18/low-cost-biochar-application-in-tanzania-shows-astounding-increases/

More exciting results from biochar use in Nepal

Biochar-Based Fertilization with Liquid Nutrient Enrichment: 21 Field Trials Covering 13 Crop Species in Nepal

Authors

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• Accepted manuscript online: 13 July 2017Full publication history
• DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2761  View/save citation
• Cited by (CrossRef): 0 articlesCheck for updates

• This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1002/ldr.2761

Abstract

Biochar produced in cost-efficient flame curtain kilns (Kon-Tiki) was nutrient enriched either with cow urine or with dissolved mineral (NPK) fertilizer to produce biochar-based fertilizers containing between 60-100 kg N, 5-60 kg P2O5 and 60-100 kg K2O, respectively, per ton of biochar. In 21 field trials nutrient-enriched biochars were applied at rates of 0.5-2 t ha-1 into the root zone of 13 different crops. Treatments combining biochar, compost and organic or chemical fertilizer were evaluated; control treatments contained same amounts of nutrients but without biochar. All nutrient-enriched biochar substrates improved yields compared to their respective no-biochar controls. Biochar enriched with dissolved NPK produced on average 20% ± 5.1% (N=4 trials) higher yields than standard NPK fertilization without biochar. Cow urine-enriched biochar blended with compost resulted on average in 123% ± 76.7% (N=13 trials) higher yields compared to the organic farmer practice with cow urine-blended compost and outcompeted NPK-enriched biochar (same nutrient dose) by 103% ± 12.4% (N=4 trials), respectively. Thus, the results of 21 field trials robustly revealed that low-dosage root zone application of organic biochar-based fertilizers caused substantial yield increases in rather fertile silt loam soils compared to traditional organic fertilization and to mineral NPK- or NPK-biochar fertilization. This can be explained by the nutrient carrier effect of biochar, causing a slow nutrient release behavior, more balanced nutrient fluxes, and reduced nutrient losses, especially when liquid organic nutrients are used for the biochar enrichment. The results open up new pathways for optimizing organic farming and improving on-farm nutrient cycling.

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. "

Soil carbon on the up with biochar

Here is a story that all folk connected with tropical agriculture should read. Please feel free to circulate this story to soil scientists, agronomists and foresters in SEA.
Lukas will be presenting at ANZBC17 in August.

Article linked below...

NSW DPI senior principal research scientist, Adjunct Professor Southern Cross University and project leader, Dr Van Zwieten has led decade long research into biochar as a soil amendment.

Compost Tea vs E.M. vs Biochar #3 - How to measure Growth Rate of Plants...

Scroll back for #1 & #2 in the series...

Compost Tea vs E.M. vs Biochar #2 - Starting the Trial - E.M. & C.T. thr...

This is the 2nd in the series. Here's a link to the 1st...
http://sea-biochar.blogspot.my/2016/12/compost-tea-vs-em-vs-biochar-how-to-set.html

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

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...

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.

 

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

Rice Husk Char research in Malaysia

The title below links to the site where this paper can be downloaded.

Biochar Application in Malaysian Sandy and Acid Sulfate Soils: Soil Amelioration Effects and Improved Crop Production over Two Cropping Seasons

Theeba Manickam ¹, Gerard Cornelissen ^2,3,4, Robert T. Bachmann ⁵, Illani Z. Ibrahim ¹, Jan Mulder ³ and Sarah E. Hale ^2,* 

Abstract

The use of biochar as an agricultural soil improvement was tested in acid sulfate and sandy soils from Malaysia, cropped with rice and corn. Malaysia has an abundance of waste rice husks that could be used to produce biochar. Rice husk biochar was produced in a gasifier at a local mill in Kelantan as well as in the laboratory using a controlled, specially designed, top lift up draft system (Belonio unit). Rice husk biochar was applied once to both soils at two doses (2% and 5%), in a pot set up that was carried out for two cropping seasons. Positive and significant crop yield effects were observed for both soils, biochars and crops. The yield effects varied with biochar type and dosage, with soil type and over the cropping seasons. The yield increases observed for the sandy soil were tentatively attributed to significant increases in plant-available water contents (from 4%–5% to 7%–8%). The yield effects in the acid sulfate soil were likely a consequence of a combination of (i) alleviation of plant root stress by aluminum (Ca/Al molar ratios significantly increased, from around 1 to 3–5) and (ii) increases in CEC. The agricultural benefits of rice husk biochar application to Malaysian soils holds promise for its future use.

Farm scale biochar production, biochar nutrient enhancement, and applica...

Hans-Peter summarizes his recent work in Nepal which covers simple biochar production methods, biochar nutrient charging methods, application methods and the results of field trials on a wide range of crops including onions, potatoes, tea, pumpkin, maize and banana.

Published on 11 Oct 2015

Video conference given by Hans-Peter Schmidt, Ithaka Institute, at the Joint International Biochar Symposium 2015, Germany

Pot trials with rice in bris soils using EFB biochar

Influence of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Biochar on Floodwater pH and Yield Components of Rice Cultivated on Acid Sulphate Soil under Rice Intensification Practices

Rosenani Abu Bakar¹⁾, Zahidah Abdul Razak¹⁾, Siti Hajar Ahmad²⁾, Bahi Jalili Seh-Bardan¹⁾, Lim Chin Tsong¹⁾, Cheah Poh Meng¹⁾

1) Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia 2) Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia 

Rice has a vital role in food security but the production is limited in infertile and degraded soils. Rice is cultivated on acid sulphate soil in the coastal area of Peninsular Malaysia. Soil amendment using biological charcoal (biochar) increases the soil fertility. Thus, empty fruit bunch biochar (EFBB) was applied in a pot experiment under a controlled environment using an organic system of rice intensification (SRI) practice and its effects on the floodwater pH, acid sulphate soil properties and growth performance of rice and yield of rice MR219 were preliminarily investigated. EFBB increased grain yield by 141 to 472%. Plant growth and yield parameters in EFBB amended soils were significantly higher than in soil without biochar. The number of tillers increased significantly with the increase in biochar applied; 28 tillers were produced in the control, while up to 80 tillers were produced in the plots applied 40 t ha^–1 EFBB. Moreover, the decline of Al³⁺ in flood water indicated that EFBB mitigated Al³⁺ toxicity. Soil water pH increased from 3.5 to 6 with increasing EFBB application rates. The grain yield was linearly correlated to the application rate of EFBB. This pot study demonstrates that the application of EFBB combined with organic fertilization and intermittent irrigation has the potential to improve rice yield on acid sulphate soil. Further study in the field is warranted to determine the effect of EFBB on large scale rice production. 

Biochar and dung beetles with Doug Pow

This video rolls straight into a more detailed 2nd video.



Also check out the 'feed supplement' label for other biochar animal feed stories.

Biochar project report from Dennis Enright in Thailand

Dennis is a kiwi commercial organic vegetable grower who is volunteering his holiday time in Thailand. He helped me establish the NZ biochar interest group, AllBlackEarth in 2013 and is now sharing his knowledge on biochar production and application in Thailand.

Dennis has prepared a 2-page report (with photos) on the progress of the project...

"Green Net, a Thai social enterprise organisation based in Bangkok is interested in knowing whether biochar can be shown to be an effective tool to assist organic farmers to manage soil nutrients and soil moisture content. That is, a tool to help "climate proof" crop yields.

In August 2014, they organised workshops for two organic farmer groups, one in Chanchengsao, a province near Bangkok and the other at Maetha near Chiang Mai where they discussed biochar, made biochar, and then established some small field experiments to see if they could see any benefits. ..."

You can download a PDF of the report here.