[Stoves] Request for biochar results.

[Philip Lloyd]

Thank you, Frank - unfortunately, I have been a farmer, and lab results
don't cut it - it is the same debate we are having in ISO re stove testing -
the WBT does clearly not indicate what will happen in the field.  What I
have described is the very minimum any farmer would need before deciding to
modify his soil in some way - and that is information which seems to be
missing.

 

Kind regards

 

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

 

 

 

From: Stoves [mailto:stoves-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of
Frank Shields
Sent: 26 November 2015 08:48
To: Discussion of biomass cooking stoves
Cc: Biochar
Subject: [Stoves] Request for biochar results.

 

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!

 

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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