[Stoves] Biochar Projects for Science Students

[Tom Miles]

We need experiments for high school science students to make and use
biochar. 

 

Kelpie and Christa have provided good instructions for small biochar stoves
for students wanting to learn about biochar:

How to Make the Dome School Biochar stove, Kelpie wilson

http://greenyourhead.typepad.com/files/how-to-make-dome-school-biochar-stove
.pdf

 

Basic Design Principles of the Pyrolytic TLUD Gasifier Stove in 2010 Bq
Demonstrations, or "How many sausages can you grill in the process of making
30g of biochar? Christa Roth

http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/files/2010%20biochar-bq%20demonstration
%20by%20Christa%20Roth.pdf

 

What student projects can demonstrate the ability of biochar to capture
nutrients and retain them for plant growth?

 

Nutrient capture: are there simple leaching or column tests where students
can filter a known concentration of fertilizer elements through samples of
soil with and without biochar and directly measure the concentration in the
filtrate using something like a specific ion electrode or conductivity
tester e.g. K or nitrates, or heavy metals like  Pb, or Cd?

 

Greenhouse/pot tests: can the students then test the same media with and
without biochar in pot tests?     

 

A students recently asked if there is a way that she can measure the amount
of carbon in biochar that will be available for carbon sequestration. Any
examples or ideas?

 

Thanks

 

Tom 

 

T R Miles Technical Consultants, Inc.

www.trmiles.com

www.biochar.bioenergylists.org

 

 

 

 

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