Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water...
Transcript of Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water...
![Page 1: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Biochar: The Truth Behind the Research
Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen
USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department of Soil, Water and Climate
?
2012 Upper Midwest Regional Master Gardener Conference – July 21, 2012
![Page 2: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Step 1. Biochar: What is it ?
![Page 3: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Biochar – Google Trend Reports
![Page 4: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Biochar – Google Trends
1998 First use of biochar in the
scientific literature
Dec. 2008
Associated Press story: Biochar as a
potential tool against climate change
1985 First reference of using biomass for
climate abatement
![Page 5: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Biochar – Google Trends Reports
Jan 2008
285 results
July 2012
2.87 million results
![Page 6: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Biochar – Google Trends
![Page 7: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Biochar – Google Trends (US)
![Page 8: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Biochar: Form of Black Carbon
•Black carbon is the range of solid residual products
resulting from the chemical and/or thermal conversion of any
carbon containing material (e.g., fossil fuels and biomass)
(Jones et al., 1997)
![Page 9: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Formation of Black Carbon: “Pyrolysis”
➲ Pyrolysis is the chemical decomposition of an organic substance by heating
➲ Main Characteristic:
Does not involve reactions with oxygen
• Typically in the absence of oxygen
![Page 10: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Formation of Black Carbon: “Pyrolysis”
➲ Pyrolysis is the chemical decomposition of an organic substance by heating
➲ Does not involve reactions with oxygen
➲ Pyrolysis is also used in everyday activity –
Cooking roasting, baking, frying, grilling
![Page 11: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Formation of Black Carbon: “Pyrolysis”
➲ Pyrolysis is the chemical decomposition of an organic substance by heating
➲ Does not involve reactions with oxygen
➲ Pyrolysis is also used in everyday activity –
➲ Also occurs in lava flows and forest/prairie fires
![Page 12: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Overview of Pyrolysis
Gas
(syngas)
Liquid
(bio-oil)
Solid
(black carbon) Pyrolysis
Biomass
![Page 13: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Overview of Pyrolysis
Gas
(syngas)
Liquid
(bio-oil)
Solid
(black carbon) Pyrolysis
Biomass
Building Blocks
Tear apart and reorganize
New chemicals and products
![Page 14: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Wide Spectrum of Pyrolysis
High temperature pyrolysis
gasification (>800 oC) {+ O2 }
“Fast” or “Slow” pyrolysis (300-600 oC)
1. Fast pyrolysis 60% bio-oil, 20% biochar, and 20% syngas
Time = seconds
2. Slow pyrolysis Can be optimized for char production
(>40% biochar yields)
Time = hours
Both temperature and time factors:
![Page 15: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Others Ways to Make Black Carbon
![Page 16: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Black Carbon “Spectrum”
Thermo-chemical conversion products
Graphite
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1.0
Oxygen to carbon (O:C) molar ratio
Soot
Charcoal
Char
Combustion residuesCombustion condensates Combustion residues
Biomass
Complete new structure Retains relic forms of parent material
0.2 0.6
Problem Lack of nomenclature uniformity
(Jones et al., 1997)
Adapted from Hedges et al., 2000; Elmquist et al., 2006; Spokas, 2010
![Page 17: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Black Carbon Use
• We have used black carbon in the past….and currently
Used as fuel
(3000-4000 BC)
Cave Drawings
(>10,000 to 30,000 BC)
Water filtration
(2000 BC)
Charcoal production
(15th century)
Pencils
Activated Charcoal
Filtration Today
![Page 18: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
What is new?
The use (or purpose) for the creation of charred biomass:
Atmospheric C sequestration
Dates to 1980’s and early 2000’s
(Goldberg 1985; Kuhlbusch and Crutzen, 1995; Lehmann, 2006)
Used as fuel
(3000-4000 BC)
Cave Drawings
(>10,000 to 30,000 BC)
Water filtration
(2000 BC)
Climate Change Mitigation
(1980’s)
Charcoal production
(15th century)
Biochar: New purpose not a new material
![Page 19: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Carbon Sequestration
(Lehmann 2006)
![Page 20: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Biochar: Black Carbon Continuum
Thermo-chemical conversion products
Graphite
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1.0
Oxygen to carbon (O:C) molar ratio
Soot
Charcoal
Char
Combustion residuesCombustion condensates Combustion residues
Biomass
Complete new structure Retains relic forms of parent material
0.2 0.6
Biochar – Spans across multiple divisions in the Black C Continuum
However, biochar is NOT a new division or material…
Adapted from Hedges et al., 2000; Elmquist et al., 2006
Biochar
![Page 21: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Biochar: Structure
Pyrolysis (biochar)
![Page 22: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Biochar: Structure
Pyrolysis (biochar)
![Page 23: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Biochar: Structure
Biochar : Majority still show relic structures in the biochar
Pyrolysis (biochar)
![Page 24: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Black Carbon “Spectrum”
Thermo-chemical conversion products
Graphite
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1.0
Oxygen to carbon (O:C) molar ratio
Soot
Charcoal
Char
Combustion residuesCombustion condensates Combustion residues
Biomass
Complete new structure Retains relic forms of parent material
0.2 0.6
Adapted from Hedges et al., 2000; Elmquist et al., 2006; Spokas, 2010
![Page 25: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Biochar
Gaining significant attention:
1. Carbon Storage
Biochar can store atmospheric carbon, potentially providing a mechanism for reduction in atmospheric CO2 levels
2. Soil Improvements
Improve water quality
Improve soil fertility
Reduce GHG emissions
3. Bioenergy
![Page 26: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Defining Biochar
International Biochar Initative (IBI) Definition:
“Biochar is a solid material obtained from the carbonization of
biomass. Biochar may be added to soils with the intention to
improve soil functions and to reduce emissions from biomass that
would otherwise naturally degrade to greenhouse gases. Biochar
also has appreciable carbon sequestration value. These
properties are measurable and verifiable in a characterization
scheme, or in a carbon emission offset protocol. ”
![Page 27: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Biochar Summary
Pyrolysis
Recalcitrant carbon form (black carbon)
(>50 to 1,000,000 yrs?) Easily degradable
(0-5 yrs)
Bio
mass M
ate
rials
Biochar is black carbon that is made for the purpose of carbon sequestration.
![Page 28: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Biochar (Summary)
Pyrolysis
However, just like cooking…
The same recipe –
might not taste the same cook to cook…
Even though same
conditions –
Can result in different
biochar chemistries
“Not all biochars are equal”
![Page 29: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Biochar Soil Application
![Page 30: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
“The use of charcoal (biochar) as a fertilizer is
not a new thing, though it is only within the
few last years that agriculturists have taken
much notice of it.”
![Page 31: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Biochar: Not new for soil additions….
-- Pennsylvania Farm Journal (1852) Editorial (Haldeman) Page 57
“The use of charcoal (biochar) as a fertilizer is
not a new thing, though it is only within the
few last years that agriculturists have taken
much notice of it.”
![Page 32: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Biochar: Soil Application
• The assumed target for biochar has been soil
Why?
• Focus has been on “creating” Terra Preta soils
Observations of increased soil fertility and productivity.
Postulated from ‘slash and burn’ historic charcoal additions
![Page 33: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Fuel/Energy Source Waste Disposal
?
The Big Question
Soil Amendment Carbon Sequestration
?
OR
![Page 34: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
However, on the other side:
• Wood distillation plants 1800-1950’s
• Wood pyrolysis – source of chemicals and energy prior to petroleum (fossil fuels)
• Some historic plants on US-EPA Superfund site list
• Other charcoal sites
• Not always productive
• Reduced seed germination
• Reduced plant growth
Biochar: Soil Application History
(BEGLINGER AND LOCKE, 1957)
![Page 35: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
Comparison between “natural” and synthetic biochar
• Variable mixed materials
(grass, trees, and soil)
• Variable production
temperatures
• Exposure to the natural
environment – air, wind, & solar
• Homogeneous feedstock
(same materials)
• Constant production
temperature
• Limited to no exposure to
natural climate conditions
“Natural” biochar Synthetic (man-made) biochar
![Page 36: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
Applications date back to the beginning of modern science [1800’s]:
Soil Application… Long History
And even earlier…
Fire pits built on soil…
Ancient Egyptians - pyroligneous acid
(bio-oil)
-used for embalming
![Page 37: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
Applications date back to the beginning of modern science [1800’s]:
Soil Application… Long History
(John Henry LeFroy, 1883)
Quote is from a
1833 report
Application rate
5000 lb/ac
(5500 kg/ha)
![Page 38: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Proposed Biochar Mechanisms
1. Alteration of soil physical-chemical properties
pH, CEC, decreased bulk density, increased water holding capacity
2. Biochar provides improved microbial habitat
3. Sorption/desorption of soil GHG and nutrients
4. Indirect effects on mycorrhizae fungi through effects on other soil microbes
Mycorrhization helper bacteria produce furan/flavoids beneficial to germination of fungal spores
Warnock et al. (2007)
![Page 39: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
• Recent review of historical and recent biochar applications:
Soil Application
• 50% positive,
• 30% no effect, and
• 20% negative impacts on growth and/or yield (Spokas et al., 2012)
![Page 40: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
• Recent review of historical and recent biochar applications:
Soil Application
• 50% positive,
• 30% no effect, and
• 20% negative impacts on growth and/or yield (Spokas et al., 2012)
• However, should not be used as a basis for
forecasting outcomes Publication bias
(Møller and Jennions, 2001)
![Page 41: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
Biochar: Soil Stability
Over a 100 year history of research
Potter (1908) – Initial observation of fungi/microbial degradation of lignite (low grade coal/black carbon)
Biochar Degradation Study Residence Time (yr)
Steinbeiss et al. (2009) <30
Hamer et al. (2004) 40 to 100
Bird et al. (1999) 50-100
Lehmann et al. (2006) 100’s
Baldock and Smernik (2002) 100-500
Hammes et al. (2008) 200-600
Cheng et al. (2008) 1000
Harden et al. (2000) 1000-2000
Middelburg et al. (1999) 10,000 to 20,000
Swift (2001) 1,000-10,000
Zimmerman (2010) 100’s to >10,000
Forbes et al. (2006) Millennia based on C-dating
Liang et al. (2008) 100’s to millennia
![Page 42: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
Possible Stability Explanation O:C Ratio
Summary of existing literature studies (n=35) on half-life estimation of biochar [Figure from Spokas (2010)]
Biochar
Degradation
Study
Residence
Time (yr)
Baldock and
Smernik (2002)
100-500
Bird et al.
(1999)
50-100
Cheng et al.
(2008)
1000
Forbes et al.
(2006)
Millennia
based on C-
dating
Hamer et al.
(2004)
40 (charred
straw residue)
80 (charred
wood)
Hammes et al.
(2008)
200-600
Harden et al.
(2000)
1000-2000
Liang et al.
(2008)
several
centuries to
millennia
Lehmann et al.
(2006)
100’s
Middelburg et
al. (1999)
10,000 to
20,000
Steinbeiss et
al. (2009)
<30
Swift (2001) 1,000-10,000
Zimmerman
(2010)
100-10,000 O:C molar ratio
0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
Pre
dic
ted H
alf-life
(ye
ars
)
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
t1/2>1000 yrs 100 yrs < t1/2 < 1000 yrs t1/2 < 100 yrs
Combustion condensates Combustion residuals Biomass
![Page 43: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
Biochar Use ?
The Cultivator (1849): “Improvement of the Soil”
“…using charcoal as a fertilizer depends on circumstances.”
“…cost in many situations is probably too
great to admit its profitable use as an
ordinary manure (soil amendment).”
![Page 44: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
1849 Farmers 69% of labor force
Avg farm size 200 acres
1 farmer supports 2 people
$ 0.75 per bushel for corn
What has changed?
![Page 45: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
1849 Farmers 69% of labor force
Avg farm size 200 acres
1 farmer supports 2 people
$ 0.75 per bushel for corn
What has changed?
Today Farmers <2% of labor force
Avg farm size 461 acres
1 farmer supports >100 people
$ 7.40 per bushel for corn
(July 13 2012)
$1.00 in 1914 had the same
buying power as $22.57 in 2012
![Page 46: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
Over 20 Locations – 6 Coordinated field plot locations
USDA-ARS Biochar and Pyrolysis Initiative (CHARNet)
![Page 47: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
Multi-location project
•6 ARS locations:
Ames, IA; Kimberly, ID; St. Paul, MN;
Big Spring, TX; Bowling Green, KY; Prosser, WA.
+additional sites in the near future
•Biochar used in replicated field plots
•Continuous corn (same crop for comparison)
•In addition to following crop yield and
soil carbon:
Soil gas concentrations and trace gas fluxes
Seedling Emergence/Initial seedling growth rates
ARS Biochar Research
![Page 48: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/48.jpg)
Biochar Impacts on Soil Microbes & N Cycling
100+ different biochars evaluated
Over 19 different biomass parent materials
Hardwood, softwood, corn stover, corn cob,
macadamia nut, peanut shell, sawdust, algae,
coconut shell, sugar cane bagasse, switchgrass,
turkey manure, chicken feathers, distillers grain
Represents a cross-sectional sampling of available “biochars”
C content 1 to 84 %
N content 0.1 to 2.7 %
Production Temperatures 350 to 850 oC
Variety of pyrolysis processes
Fast, slow, hydrothermal, gasification,
microwave assisted (MAP)
![Page 49: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/49.jpg)
Soil C
ontro
l
Cor
n Cob
Bioch
ar (5
00 C
)
Chick
en F
eath
er B
ioch
ar (M
AP)
Pou
ltry M
anur
e Bioch
ar (5
00 C
)
Food
Was
te B
ioch
ar (5
50)
Mac
adam
ia N
ut B
C
Com
post+H
arwoo
d BC
N2O
Pro
duction (
ng N
-N2O
gsoil -
1 d
ay-1
)
0
10
20
30
40200
300
400
![Page 50: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/50.jpg)
Ethylene Impacts
Soil Microbial Impacts
Induces fungal spore germination
Inhibits/reduces rates of nitrification/denitrification
Inhibits CH4 oxidation (methanotrophs)
Involved in the flooded soil feedback
Both microbial and plant (adventitious root growth)
So
il
Activa
ted
Ch
arc
oa
l
BC
-1
BC
-2
BC
-3
BC
-4
BC
-5
BC
-6
BC
-7
BC
-8
BC
-9
BC
-10
BC
-11
BC
-12
Eth
yle
ne
Pro
du
ctio
n (
ng
C2
H4
0.5
gch
ar-1
d-1
)
0
10
20
30
40
Dry
Wet
So
il
Activa
ted
Ch
arc
oa
l
BC
-1
BC
-2
BC
-3
BC
-4
BC
-5
BC
-6
BC
-7
BC
-8
BC
-9
BC
-10
BC
-11
BC
-12
Eth
yle
ne
Pro
du
ctio
n (
ng
C2
H4
gso
il-1 d
-1)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Field Capacity
Saturated
![Page 51: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/51.jpg)
, 24-Apr-2010 + 00:48:10NRC104
1.01 6.01 11.01 16.01 21.01 26.01 31.01Time5
100
%
5
100
%
5
100
%
5
100
%
5
100
%
5
100
%
RXI5_032210_001_126 Scan EI+ 45-2501.27e7
RXI5_032210_001_099 Scan EI+ TIC
1.27e75.19
5.96 29.198.62 12.9411.739.87 18.2913.65
16.44 22.9518.99
21.7623.78
RXI5_032210_001_092 Scan EI+ TIC
1.27e79.29
8.37
9.8918.3012.15 16.4713.6814.82
20.56 27.4129.00
RXI5_032210_001_091 Scan EI+ TIC
1.27e77.006.005.24
10.9113.68
15.08
18.6721.75
23.81 27.1025.1027.76 29.25
RXI5_032210_001_087 Scan EI+ TIC
1.27e78.64
7.005.68
11.76
11.5413.69
12.4116.21
18.84
17.2520.02
21.81
24.16 29.7126.2027.12
RXI5_032210_001_088 Scan EI+ TIC
1.27e712.0010.419.51
5.69 7.2229.9725.8523.9423.07
21.0420.0113.09 14.41
28.9527.08
To
luene
Be
nze
ne
(13.6
5)
xyle
nes
meth
anol
Naphth
ale
ne
1,2
-dic
hlo
robenzene
eth
ylb
enzene
Acetic A
cid
Wood Ash
Activated Charcoal
Wood pellet
BC
Macadamia
Shell BC
Hardwood
Sawdust
Oak
Hardwood
Bituminous
coal
nonanal
Aceto
ne
2-m
eth
ylb
uta
ne
eth
anol
Biochar has a variety of sorbed volatiles = range of potential microbial inhibitors
Headspace Thermal Desorption GC/MS scans of biochars
Fu
rfura
l
(10.9
)
![Page 52: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/52.jpg)
Conclusions
• Biochar is not a new material new purpose
• Carbon Sequestration
• Plant biomass fixes atmospheric CO2
• Biomass is transformed into a more resistant form of carbon
• Disrupts atmospheric cycling of CO2
![Page 53: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/53.jpg)
Conclusions
• Biochar is not a new material – new purpose
No absolute “biochar” consistent trends:
Highly variable and different responses to biochar as a function of soil
ecosystem (microbial linkage), plant, & position on black carbon continuum:
![Page 54: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/54.jpg)
Conclusions
• Biochar is not a new material – new purpose
No absolute “biochar” consistent trends:
What is clear – Biochar could be a piece of the solution
Just as the climate issues did not arise from a single source;
the solution to the problem will not be a single solution
Soil C sequestration can be one piece of the solution
Multiple avenues should be utilized
Biochar
![Page 55: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/55.jpg)
Acknowledgements •Minnesota Department of Agriculture – Specialty Block Grant Program
•Minnesota Corn Growers Association Dynamotive Energy Systems
Fast pyrloysis char (CQuest™) through non-funded CRADA agreement
Best Energies
Slow pyrolysis char through a non-funded CRADA agreement
Northern Tilth
Minnesota Biomass Exchange
NC Farm Center for Innovation and Sustainability
National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI)
Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) [Univ. of Illinois]
Biochar Brokers
Chip Energy
AECOM
Penn State
University of Bonn (Germany)
Laboratorio di Scienze Ambientali R.Sartori - C.I.R.S.A. (University of Bologna, Italy)
IRNAS-CSIC (Spain)
USDA-ARS Biochar and Pyrolysis Initiative
Technical Support : Martin duSaire
Students: Tia Phan, Lindsey Watson, Lianne Endo, Amanda Bidwell, Eric Nooker
Kia Yang, Michael Ottman, Ed Colosky, and Vang Yang
"The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” --Franklin D. Roosevelt
![Page 56: Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen - USDA ARS · Kurt Spokas and Lynne Hagen USDA-ARS, Soil and Water Management Unit, St. Paul, MN Adjunct Professor University of Minnesota – Department](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051912/60027ddb323a2c7f29258388/html5/thumbnails/56.jpg)
MN Department of Agriculture Project
• Examining the bioaccumulation of
sorbed chemical species in specialty
crops
• Impacts on yield and growth on a
variety of crops
• Field and laboratory components