- Author: Milton E McGiffen
The Biochar Journal (https://www.biochar-journal.org/en) had a fairly detailed article on whether to use weight or volume when measuring biochar:
https://www.biochar-journal.org/en/ct/71-Weight-or-Volume-for-Handling-Biochar-and-Biomass-
It is a tricky subject, as in ag we often think in terms of pounds per acre. But with biochar, the weight probably includes water and ash. Both of which have their value -- wetter biochar tends to be less dusty, and ash often includes potassium and other nutrients. But if you are looking for just biochar, anything else adds to the shipping cost.
I would rather get as much information as possible when buying and using biochar. In our experiments we have gone to noting dry weight, wet weight, and density. With that information you can convert between volume and weight.
- Author: Milton E McGiffen
Here are a few blog posts with general information on biochar and some nice graphics:
Biochar and Nutrient Management: http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=22132
Biochar and Carbon Sequestration: http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=22224
- Author: Milton E McGiffen
I spoke with Bruce Apple, from Ag Energy:
The units are specifically designed to use the wheat straw generated under one center pivot irrigation set up. It turns the wheat straw into biochar, and provides energy to run the center pivot. It is not permitted here in California, but the basic concept of a mobile pyrolyzer or a smaller one that fits directly into a specific farm operation is something we have needed for a long time.
- Author: Milton E McGiffen
Josiah Hunt of Pacific Biochar wrote a nice article soon to appear on the nascent California Biochar Association website:
Pyrogenic Organic Matter in Soil (aka biochar)
As long as fire and plant life have co-existed, charcoal has played a role in the development and fertility of topsoil. With thanks to some scientific sleuthing, we can pin that down to about 400 some odd million years ago, in the Palaeozoic period. (Heike Knicker, 2011, Link to full article: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Heike_Knicker/publication/232408899_Pyrogenic_organic_matter_in_soil_Its_origin_and_occurrence_its_chemistry_and_survival_in_soil_environments/links/02e7e529090d0535b8000000.pdf
“The presence of [soil organic matter] SOM is regarded as being critical for soil function and soil quality.[2]”, it says on the Wikipedia description of Soil Organic Matter, citing Beare et al. 1994. On that same page two mentions of charcoal can be found:
In mentioning sources of Soil Organic Matter:
- “Additional sources of soil organic matter include plant root exudates[9] and charcoal.[10]
In describing Plant Residues:
- “Charcoal is elemental carbon derived from incomplete combustion of organic matter. Charcoal is resistant to decomposition.”
Using Wikipedia as a proxy for general awareness, it appears that there is at least an acknowledgment of charcoal as a piece of the soil organic matter puzzle, and that the SOM puzzle is “critical for soil function and soil quality”. While seafood does fill some of our diet, the rest of our food ultimately comes from soil. It doesn't seem too far of a stretch to say that soil organic matter is critical to humanity's food supply. Yet common farming and gardening practice in modern America is seemingly devoid of intentional use of charcoal in managing soil organic matter.
Into this gap came the word biochar. Biochar fills the void between the general lack of intentional use of charcoal and soil life's affinity for it (and some interesting climate change implications too). And apparently that void must have had quite a vacuum to it, since the term biochar popped onto the scene several years ago, there has been an explosion of research and literary work devoted to it. Some 4,000 research articles to date.
It could have been called the California Pyrogenic Organic Matter for Soil Association, or the California Charcoal for Soil Association, but it is not. We are the California Biochar Association. It is just a made up word – biochar – but it is pretty useful. Pyrogenic organic matter is quite a mouthful. Charcoal usually brings to mind a BBQ. Agri-char was an interesting option for a while, but according to an unconfirmed mention, that word was already a registered trademark, but “biochar” was still open.
I hope you will enjoy the wide range of information we present here for an incredibly old material with a relatively new name.
Thank you for taking part.
- Josiah Hunt
Bibliography:
1.) Pyrogenic organic matter in soil: Its origin and occurrence, its chemistry and survival in soil environments
Heike Knicker,
Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología, CSIC, Avda. Reina Mercedes, 10, P.O. Box 1052, E-41080 Sevilla, Spain
Available online 12 March 2011
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Heike_Knicker/publication/232408899_Pyrogenic_organic_matter_in_soil_Its_origin_and_occurrence_its_chemistry_and_survival_in_soil_environments/links/02e7e529090d0535b8000000.pdf
2.) Beare, M. H.; Hendrix, P. F.; Cabrera, M. L.; Coleman, D. C. (1994). "Aggregate-Protected and Unprotected Organic Matter Pools in Conventional- and No-Tillage Soils" (PDF). Soil Science Society of America Journal. Free PDF download. 58 (3): 787. doi:10.2136/sssaj1994.03615995005800030021x. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- Author: Milton E McGiffen
After some discussion, the meeting has been changed to Wednesday morning:
The recently formed California Biochar Association will meet during the US Biochar Conference in Corvalis, OR next week at 6:30 am on WEDNESDAY, August 24. The meeting is in the boardroom at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center. It is mostly a meet and greet, so it if you will be in Corvalis please join us.