Biochar a boon

1

Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

EFFECT OF BIOCHAR ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

Ankur Scientific, Baroda, India


What is Biochar?

Biochar is the carbon rich product whenBiochar is the carbon rich product whenbiomass is heated with little or no availableoxygen.It is produced by thermal decomposition oforganic material under limited supply of

d t l ti l l t toxygen and at relatively low temperatures.In short, Biochar is a charcoal like solid thatcan be generated from most types of organicmatter.

2


How is Biochar generated?

GasificationGasification isis oneone ofof thethe dominantdominant thermalthermalGasificationGasification isis oneone ofof thethe dominantdominant thermalthermaldecompositiondecomposition processesprocesses producingproducing gasgas alongalongwithwith biocharbiochar..GasificationGasification isis thethe processprocess ofof convertingconverting solidsolidfuelsfuels toto gaseousgaseous fuelfuel..TheThe processprocess involvesinvolves dryingdrying pyrolysispyrolysisTheThe processprocess involvesinvolves drying,drying, pyrolysis,pyrolysis,combustioncombustion withwith air,air, reductionreduction intointo combustiblecombustiblegases,gases, (carbon(carbon monoxide,monoxide, hydrogen,hydrogen, methane,methane,somesome higherhigher hydrocarbons)hydrocarbons) andand inertsinerts,,(carbon(carbon dioxidedioxide andand nitrogen)nitrogen)..


The reactions of Gasification process

3


Properties of Properties of BiocharBiochar from Gasifiersfrom Gasifiers

The yield of Biochar as by-product could befrom 6% to 35%.Has 7-10% ash and 70-75% fixed carbon.Calorific value ranges from 5500 6500Calorific value ranges from 5500-6500kcal/kg.


Enhances the health of the soil.

Potential impact of Biochar on soils

Increases the pH of acidic soils (since biochar is typicallyalkaline).Increases water & nutrient retention.Biochar carbon is chemically altered during Gasification & thusare resistant to attack by micro-organismsare resistant to attack by micro-organisms.Biochar carbon can remain stabilized for long periods of time(100 to 1000 years).Is therefore an important way of storing carbon that has beenscavenged from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.

4


Potential impact of Biochar on soils


Systematic study done by ‘Ankur’ on application of gasifier biochar on crop response.

Ankur conducted systematic studies on application of gasifierbiochar on crop response, mainly wheat.Wheat is an important food grain providing nourishment to nearly35% people of the world.It contributes to about 60% of the daily protein requirement andmore calories to the world diet than any other food crop.The field experiment was conducted under irrigated conditionduring rabi, 2011-12 in the R&D fields of ‘Ankur’.Biochar produced from WBG 400 gasifier was analyzed for itsphysico-chemical and nutritional properties and the results arepresented in the following slides.

5


Physico-Chemical and Nutritional Properties of BiocharBiochar produced from ‘Ankur’ Gasifier was analyzed & the values are as below:

Sr No Parameter Values Sr. No Parameter Values 1 Moisture, % 4.72

2 Ash, % of dry wt 19.26

3 Volatile, % of dry wt 3.68

4 Fixed carbon, % of dry wt 77.06

5 Calorific Value kcal/kg dry wt 6609

Biochar is rich in carbon & has higher values of P2O5 and K2O compared to Farm Yard Manure (FYM).

5 Calorific Value, kcal/kg dry wt 6609

6 Nitrogen as N, % of dry wt 0.46

7 Phosphorus as P2O5, % of dry wt 2.70

8 Potassium as K2O, % of dry wt 3.90


Chemical Properties of the Soil in Experimental Site

Sr. No Parameter Values

1 Soil pH (1:2 soil: water suspension) 7.42

2 Electrical conductivity (dS m-1) 0.44

3 Organic carbon (OC % ) 0.38

4 Available phosphorus (kg P2O5 ha-1) 17.50

5 Available potassium (kg K2O ha-1) 212.50

6


The following three treatments were given

Treatments given

T1 (Control): No fertilizer was used.

T2 (Biochar+ Urea): 50 kg ha-1 P2O5 through biochar and 3 splits of 128 kg ha-1 N through urea ; 1/3 as basal + 1/3 at tillering + 1/3 at milking.

T3 (DAP+ U ) 50 k h 1 P O th h DAP d 3 lit f 128 k T3 (DAP+ Urea): 50 kg ha-1 P2O5 through DAP and 3 splits of 128 kg ha-1 N through urea; 1/3 as basal + 1/3 at tillering + 1/3 at milking.

Design, layout and Plot size: The field experiment was laid down in simple plot design with three treatments and replicated three times. The plot size was 3m x 5m = 15 m2


Fertilizer applicationNo fertilizer was applied in T1.pp

In T2, no phosphorus was applied. Instead 2 tons of biocharha-1 was applied by uniformly spreading and mixing with soilduring the preparation of land and 128 N kg ha-1 in the formof urea was applied as per treatment.

In T3, the recommended dose of 128:50 NP kg ha-1 wasapplied in the form of urea and diammonium phosphate.Phosphorus was applied on the day of sowing while nitrogenwas applied as per treatment.

7


Overview of Experimental Plots after 60 DaysThe fertilizer application was followed by seeds sowing, irrigation and after care likei t lt i t lli d i b t th t d th lt f llinterculturing, controlling weeds in between the rows etc. and the result was as follows:


The Results - Plant Height at Different Growth Stages

TreatmentPlant height in cm

After 30 days After 45 days After 60 days At harvest

T1 (control) 28.2 43.0 55.9 56.3

T2 (Biochar+Urea)

35.4 53.8 65.9 67.4

T3 (DAP+Urea)

30.1 44.2 64.1 64.4

8


The Results - Ear Length at Different Growth Stages

TreatmentEar length in cm

After 60 days At harvest

T1 (Control) 5.8 6.0

T2 (Biochar+Urea) 8.8 9.0

T3 ( DAP+Urea) 7.1 7.5


The Results - 1000 Grain Weight and Grains Per Ear Head

Treatment Grains per ear head 1000-grain weight (g)

T1 (control) 44.47 50.332

T2 (Biochar+Urea) 48.51 54.301

T3 ( DAP+Urea) 46.83 52.951

9


The Results - Grain Yield, Straw Yield and Harvest Index

Treatment

Yield and Attributes

Grain yield

(kg ha-1)

Straw yield

(kg ha-1)

Total yield

(kg ha-1)

Harvest

Index

T1 (control) 3030 5266 8296 0 365T1 (control) 3030 5266 8296 0.365

T2

(Biochar+Urea)7112 10308 17420 0.408

T3 ( DAP+Urea) 6014 9441 15455 0.389


Conclusions of the experimentation

Combined biochar and fertilizer application has increasedCombined biochar and fertilizer application has increasedthe grain yield as well as straw yield.

All the growth parameters of wheat crop were better whenbiochar and N fertilizer were applied in combinationreplacing P fertilizer.

Application of biochar can save P fertilizer.

Soil productivity as indicated by the yield and attributesincreases with use of biochar.

10


Trials with Maize….and other crops..

Similar results have been obtained with MaizeSimilar results have been obtained with Maize.

The results are likely to be generally applicable toalmost all crops with possibly greater impact on Pulses.


Thank You

(Complete details of Ankur’s biochar experiment with process and results can be made available on request).

Biochar a boon

Technology

Transcript of Biochar a boon