[Stoves] Request for biochar results.

Thu Nov 26 16:49:36 CST 2015

Many thanks, Frank

I think yours is a most reasonable assessment.  Everything I have researched to date tends to suggest that TLUD biochar is a rather low-value product, and I am really keen to find some evidence that there is more merit in the material than I have so far been able to find.  I hope others will comment on your remarks.

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 11:55
To: Discussion of biomass cooking stoves
Subject: Re: [Stoves] Request for biochar results.

Dear Prof. Philip Lloyd,

I agree with everything you say including ISO stove testing and what the farmer needs before paying a lot of money for biochar. Problem is biochar is a different animal than something the plant needs like water, nitrogen, nutrients etc. So doing field tests with biochar makes no more sense than seeing what adding sand will do to your soil. It makes it hard to market. 

The biochar the TLUDs are making may not be the best quality char and when a lot is added may cause problems first year. If nutrients are added to it or it is mixed into compost or in some way made to be a material plants require then there is better success and a chance for sales. I think mixed with compost is best because any phytotoxins should be neutralized but the composter expects to get more money for his product. Mixing with inorganic fertilizers to soak in biochar will be a good nutrient product, but then again more money required. 

That is why a lot of interest in using biochar for more high end uses. Potting soils, green roofs, swales, water filtration etc. But with higher concentrations of char used it must be clear of phytotoxins. A simple plant growth study using cucumbers will determine that. Selling to farmers has been a hard sale. 

Regards

Frank

On Nov 26, 2015, at 1:17 PM, Philip Lloyd <plloyd at mweb.co.za> wrote:

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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