U.S.-FocUSed Biochar report - BioEnergy Lists
U.S.-FocUSed Biochar report - BioEnergy Lists U.S.-FocUSed Biochar report - BioEnergy Lists
al. (2009) reported a reduction in emissions, no significant reduction of the inorganic –N pool was been reportedby Clough et al. (2010). Van Zwieten et al. (2009) attributes the specific characteristics of the biochar as influencingthe activity of the microorganisms responsible for N transformations.Carbon SequestrationCarbon sequestration is essentially the process of transforming atmospheric CO 2 into biomass through photosynthesisand incorporation of biomass into soil as humus. Globally, soils have the capacity to draw substantialamounts of CO 2 from the atmosphere by photosynthesis in cropland, managed forest and grassland soils (Izaurraldeet al. 2001). At a local and regional scale, increased adoption of land use management that incorporatesmultiple ecosystem services could deliver significant benefits.The potential for soil to sequester carbon has been well documented (Izaurralde et al. 2001) and the storage ofcarbon in soils is hypothesized to depend on four main factors (Knops and Bradley 2009):1. Organic matter inputs;2. Organic matter decomposability;3. The level of physical protection of organic matter in aggregates; and4. The depth at which the organic matter is deposited.The carbon content of spoil material is typically very low compared to undisturbed surface soils, therefore thepotential for carbon sequestration is significant (Shrestha and Lal 2006), predominately through the developmentof soil horizons over long (decades) time periods. The low soil organic carbon in drastically disturbed soilscan be enhanced by:• Proper reclamation;• Adoption of Best Management Practices;• Improvement in soil fertility using integrated soil management technologies;• Nutrient cycling by returning biomass to the soil; and• Growing leguminous annuals or tree plants with potential for biological N2-fixation.Soil organic carbon sequestration is focused on enhancing natural capacity of ecosystems to increase rates oforganic matter input into soil in a form with long residence time (Post et al. 2004). Drastically disturbed soils arethe ones with the high potential to sequester soil organic carbon at rates of 0.5 to 1.0 ton C/ha/yr and as high as 4ton C/ha/yr (Shrestha and Lal 2006). Additionally, the most degraded sites have been shown to have the greatestresponse to any form of organic matter, including biochar (Kimetu et al. 2008).Traditional reviews of the potential for terrestrial carbon sequestration have focused on agricultural, forestryand grassland. Negative externalities of such an approach include the competition for agricultural lands, decreasedfood and fiber production, increased consumer prices and the increased use of pesticides and herbicidesin reduced tillage agriculture (Izaurralde et al. 2001). Palumbo et al. (2004) estimates that disturbed lands inthe United States (1.4 x 10 8 ha) can account for a modest, yet significant carbon sequestration potential (11 PgCover 50 years). An evaluation by Sperow (2006) of carbon sequestration potential in East-Central mine lands ofthe United States indicated that current carbon sequestration potential represented between 0.3 -1% of the CO 2emissions of the same region. Biochar may be able to increase the amount of offset emissions via the followingmechanisms (Gaunt and Cowie 2009):• Avoided emissions from conventional use of feedstock biomass;• Stabilization of biomass carbon;• Avoided emissions of N 2 O and CH 4 from soil;• Displaced fertilizer and agricultural inputs;• Enhancement of agronomic efficiency and yield; and• Fossil fuel displacement.34U.S.-Focused Biochar Report:Assessment of Biochar’s Benefits for the United States of America
While the actual numbers for increased carbon sequestration from the use of biochar in the restoration of drasticallydisturbed lands are unknown at this time, it is anticipated that it will increase the numbers quoted above.While there is still no formal approach (approved methodology) for sequestering carbon through biochar, thesetechniques can be implemented immediately and provide a transition towards larger efforts moving forward.ConclusionsIzaurralde et al. (2001) have noted that soil carbon sequestration is able to play a strategic role in GHG emissioncontrol. Compared with other proposals for the immediate removal of atmospheric CO 2 , terrestrial sequestrationtechniques are well established, immediately deployable and known to have beneficial effects on the environment.The strategic use of biochar in disturbed lands is an important piece of this strategy. As has been shownabove, biochar has the potential to increase productivity and mitigate several detrimental properties associatedwith disturbed land reclamation, it is not an unreasonable assumption that the addition of soil organic carbonin the form of biochar can be done without net cost to reclamation projects. Techniques for the reclamation ofdisturbed land are well established, and the incorporation of biochar in soils as another amendment can be easilyadopted.The evidence from both the study fog biochar application itself and the body of reclamation and restoration workwould suggest that the application of biochar would be most effective in the reclamation of highly degradedsandy to clayey sandy soil types. Additionally 2% organic carbon appears to be the threshold at which significantchanges to physical properties (e.g. soil structure, available water content) occur. Application rates if biocharwith this criterion may have the most promising opportunities for the restoration of drastically disturbed landscapes.However, no general application rate can be determined from the data available and requires testing for specificsoil and plant conditions (Glaser et al. 2002). Palumbo et al (2004) recommended a program of systematicresearch to understand how interacting processes are expressed in various mineralogical, geochemical and hydrologicsettings for the optimal application of biochar in disturbed land reclamation. This is especially true forthe arid and semi-arid regions where mining is common and, to date, little biochar research has been undertaken(Blackwell et al. 2009). Additionally, appropriate carbon trading protocols are required for generating anotherincome stream (or at minimum a process for entities to calculate a carbon impact number in order) for miningcompanies and land owners (Shrestha et al. 2009).ReferencesAkala VA, Lal R (2001) Soil Organic Carbon Pools and Sequestration Rates in Reclaimed Minesoils in Ohio. Journalof Environmental Quality 30, 2098-2104.Albaladejo J, Lopez J, Boix-Fayos C, Barbera GG, Martinez-Mena M (2008) Long-term Effect of a Single Applicationof Organic Refuse on Carbon Sequestration and Soil Physical Properties Journal of EnvironmentalQuality 37, 2093-2099.Allen MF (2007) Mycorrhizal Fungi: Highways for Water and Nutrients in Arid Soils. Vadose Zone Journal 6,291-297.Amonette JE, Joseph S (2009) Characteristics of Biochar: Microchemical Properties. In ‘Biochar for EnvironmentalManagement: Science and Technology’. (Eds J Lehmann and S Joseph) pp. 33-52. (Earthscan: London)Anderson J, Ingram L, Stahl P (2008) Influence of reclamation management practices on microbial biomass carbonand soil organic carbon accumulation in semiarid lands of Wyoming. Applied Soil Ecology 40, 387-397.Ansari AA (2008) Soil profile studies during bioremediation of sodic soils through the application of organicamendments (vermiwash, tillage, green manure, mulch earthworms and vermicompost). World Journal ofAgricultural Sciences 4, 550-553.Biochar for reclamation in:The Role of Biochar in the Carbon Dynamics in Drastically Disturbed Soils35
- Page 2 and 3: AcknowledgmentsThe Center for Energ
- Page 4 and 5: U.S.-Focused Biochar Report:Assessm
- Page 7 and 8: an efficiency of 32% and convention
- Page 9 and 10: tion of N and S) get enriched in th
- Page 11 and 12: Benefits of Biofuels and Potential
- Page 13 and 14: conversion were taken into account.
- Page 15 and 16: Lal, R. 2003. Global Potential of S
- Page 17 and 18: Skjemstad, J. O., D. C. Reicosky, A
- Page 19 and 20: Biochar and energy linkages in:Bioc
- Page 21 and 22: of value. Depending on the process,
- Page 23 and 24: eowner will have one half of the 3.
- Page 25: 100%10%Char yeild (wt % of dry biom
- Page 28 and 29: chars acting more like lime and rai
- Page 30 and 31: ConclusionSociety has hundreds of d
- Page 34 and 35: • Free biochar particles with emb
- Page 36 and 37: Smernik (2009) has suggested that b
- Page 40 and 41: Bauer A, Black AL (1994) Quantifica
- Page 42 and 43: Shrestha RK, Lal R (2007) Soil Carb
- Page 44 and 45: Sustainability OverviewThe most com
- Page 46 and 47: • thinnings (both understory and
- Page 48 and 49: nineties, more than six million acr
- Page 50 and 51: 3. Biomass shall not come from land
- Page 52 and 53: Sustainability Protocol Purpose 181
- Page 54 and 55: • Administrative• Social• Qua
- Page 56 and 57: y Biochar.- Societal Benefits: Bioc
- Page 58 and 59: 1 hectare (ha) = 2.47 acres; 100 he
- Page 60 and 61: the seven in the BBTV.Continuing al
- Page 62 and 63: F2 (Expanded forestry residues; 0.1
- Page 64 and 65: projects (p 81 of his thesis) doubl
- Page 66 and 67: Other Global NPP. projections To be
- Page 68 and 69: former term, as well as “Biochar
- Page 70 and 71: Biochar relevance in GHG markets in
- Page 72 and 73: It is far easier to measure emissio
- Page 74 and 75: STEPS ANDDOCUMENTATIONRESPONSIBLE P
- Page 76 and 77: only account for 4.5% of members’
- Page 78 and 79: Analysis: Biochar And Carbon Market
- Page 80 and 81: Quantification of reductions for bi
While the actual numbers for increased carbon sequestration from the use of biochar in the restoration of drasticallydisturbed lands are unknown at this time, it is anticipated that it will increase the numbers quoted above.While there is still no formal approach (approved methodology) for sequestering carbon through biochar, thesetechniques can be implemented immediately and provide a transition towards larger efforts moving forward.ConclusionsIzaurralde et al. (2001) have noted that soil carbon sequestration is able to play a strategic role in GHG emissioncontrol. Compared with other proposals for the immediate removal of atmospheric CO 2 , terrestrial sequestrationtechniques are well established, immediately deployable and known to have beneficial effects on the environment.The strategic use of biochar in disturbed lands is an important piece of this strategy. As has been shownabove, biochar has the potential to increase productivity and mitigate several detrimental properties associatedwith disturbed land reclamation, it is not an unreasonable assumption that the addition of soil organic carbonin the form of biochar can be done without net cost to reclamation projects. Techniques for the reclamation ofdisturbed land are well established, and the incorporation of biochar in soils as another amendment can be easilyadopted.The evidence from both the study fog biochar application itself and the body of reclamation and restoration workwould suggest that the application of biochar would be most effective in the reclamation of highly degradedsandy to clayey sandy soil types. Additionally 2% organic carbon appears to be the threshold at which significantchanges to physical properties (e.g. soil structure, available water content) occur. Application rates if biocharwith this criterion may have the most promising opportunities for the restoration of drastically disturbed landscapes.However, no general application rate can be determined from the data available and requires testing for specificsoil and plant conditions (Glaser et al. 2002). Palumbo et al (2004) recommended a program of systematicresearch to understand how interacting processes are expressed in various mineralogical, geochemical and hydrologicsettings for the optimal application of biochar in disturbed land reclamation. This is especially true forthe arid and semi-arid regions where mining is common and, to date, little biochar research has been undertaken(Blackwell et al. 2009). Additionally, appropriate carbon trading protocols are required for generating anotherincome stream (or at minimum a process for entities to calculate a carbon impact number in order) for miningcompanies and land owners (Shrestha et al. 2009).ReferencesAkala VA, Lal R (2001) Soil Organic Carbon Pools and Sequestration Rates in Reclaimed Minesoils in Ohio. Journalof Environmental Quality 30, 2098-2104.Albaladejo J, Lopez J, Boix-Fayos C, Barbera GG, Martinez-Mena M (2008) Long-term Effect of a Single Applicationof Organic Refuse on Carbon Sequestration and Soil Physical Properties Journal of EnvironmentalQuality 37, 2093-2099.Allen MF (2007) Mycorrhizal Fungi: Highways for Water and Nutrients in Arid Soils. Vadose Zone Journal 6,291-297.Amonette JE, Joseph S (2009) Characteristics of <strong>Biochar</strong>: Microchemical Properties. In ‘<strong>Biochar</strong> for EnvironmentalManagement: Science and Technology’. (Eds J Lehmann and S Joseph) pp. 33-52. (Earthscan: London)Anderson J, Ingram L, Stahl P (2008) Influence of reclamation management practices on microbial biomass carbonand soil organic carbon accumulation in semiarid lands of Wyoming. Applied Soil Ecology 40, 387-397.Ansari AA (2008) Soil profile studies during bioremediation of sodic soils through the application of organicamendments (vermiwash, tillage, green manure, mulch earthworms and vermicompost). World Journal ofAgricultural Sciences 4, 550-553.<strong>Biochar</strong> for reclamation in:The Role of <strong>Biochar</strong> in the Carbon Dynamics in Drastically Disturbed Soils35
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