More on Biochar & AD @BiomassMagazine

Biochar could benefit anaerobic digestion of animal manure @BiomassMagazine: New research by Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists shows biochar has potential to make anaerobic digestion of animal manure a more efficient method to rid farms of waste while producing methane for energy.

see also: https://sea-biochar.blogspot.my/2017/10/ibi-webinar-anaerobic-digestion-and.html

GeoTherapy - chapter 15

I have permission from Prof. Reg Preston to circulate a chapter of this book which he authored. Please follow this link for your copy.

“The bottom line

The potential role of biochar as a means of sequestering atmospheric carbon has so far been the main focus of attention. However, its virtues are much wider with potential impacts on soil fertility, plant yield and quality and as an additive in livestock feed, biodigesters and other liquid waste disposal systems. More important is the emphasis that biochar has given to the overall concept of the systems approach to utilization of renewable resources and recycling of wastes with maintenance or improvement in soil fertility. Biochar makes most sense when it is derived from a process that aims to optimize the varied characteristics of biomass, to satisfy the major needs of humanity which are food, energy, shelter and a healthy environment. It needs to be produced and used locally for maximum benefits.”

Exciting new research from Lao PDR - benefits of biochar as animal feed

Biochar reduces enteric methane and improves growth and feed conversion in local “Yellow” cattle fed cassava root chips and fresh cassava foliage (http://www.lrrd.org/public-lrrd/proofs/lrrd2411/leng24199.htm)

Abstract 

Twelve local “Yellow” cattle with initial live weight ranging from 80 to 100 kg were assigned in a completely randomized block design to a 2*2 factorial arrangement of four treatments with three replications. The factors were: biochar at 0.6% of diet DM or none; and potassium nitrate at 6% of diet DM or urea at 1.83% of diet DM. The basal diet was cassava root chips fed ad libitum and fresh cassava foliage at 1% of LW (DM basis). Sodium sulphate and sodium chloride were added to the diet at the rate of 0.4% and 0.5% in the DM. The trial lasted 98 days following a 21 day adaptation to the diets.

Live weight gain was increased 25% by adding biochar to the diet DM and tended to be decreased when nitrate replaced urea as the source of NPN. DM feed conversion was improved by biochar and by urea replacing nitrate. DM feed intake was not affected by supplementation with biochar nor by the NPN source. Both biochar and nitrate reduced methane production by 22 and 29%, respectively, the effects being additive (41% reduction) for the combination of biochar and nitrate. 

R A Leng*, T R Preston** and Sangkhom Inthapanya

Faculty of Agriculture and Forest Resources, Souphanouvong University,
Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
inthapanyasangkhom@yahoo.com
*University of New England, Armidale NSW, Australia
**Finca Ecologica TOSOLY, AA48 Socorro, Colombia