[Stoves] Request for biochar results.

[Frank Shields]

Dear Prof. Philip Lloyd,

The improvements biochar makes to a soil is best seen in lab results. It reports changes in texture, water movement and availability (along with soluble nutrients), nutrient holding etc. etc. 

Because biochar is not needed by plants you will only see a change in plants if the changes in soil texture and/or nutrient availability are made limiting. If not made limiting there will be no difference so it could take many years before the conditions are right for seeing a biochar difference. 

If a lab tests shows biochar holds nitrogen longer in the root zone compared to non-biochar soil then at some point when nitrogen is depleted in the non-biochar soil you will see a difference. Naturally it could take years before the condition is meet but in research the limiting condition can be forced. Poorly designed biochar test plots show good results, bad results and no difference. Results mean little.




Regards

Frank

Frank Shields






>> 
>>> Dear All
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> I am seeking solid scientific information on the benefits of adding biochar to soil. I need, at very least, the results of controlled experiments on significant sized plots of yields over several years for at least one crop, with one plot untreated and the other treated, and preferably with three crops and several soil types.  I was certain some agronomist somewhere had done such tests, but I have been unable to locate them – all I can find is uncontrolled tests on very small areas, and of very short duration with uncharacterized soils.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Help needed!
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>>> 
>>> Prof Philip Lloyd
>>> 
>>> Energy Institute
>>> 
>>> Cape Peninsula University of Technology
>>> 
>>> PO Box 1906
>>> 
>>> Bellville 7535
>>> 
>>> Tel: 021 959 4323
>>> 
>>> Fax: 086 778 0257
>>> 
>>> Cell: 083 441 5247
>>> 
>>> PA: Nadia 021 959 4330
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 

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