Date: April 14, 2014 by
Kristin Peterson
Thousands of years ago farmers added “terra preta” or black
gold to Amazonian soils to enrich soil productivity. By slowly burning organic
materials and burying them underground, ancient farmers were able to create
soils that retain nutrients and carbon today. This ancient natural soil
conditioning technique was similar to what we now call biochar, a byproduct of
modern biofuel production.
The CenUSA Bioenergy project produces biofuels using
pyrolysis, a process that transforms agricultural feedstocks at very high heat,
into bio-oil used for fuel, and biochar, an almost pure carbon.
Research presented at the 2013 CenUSA annual meeting, showed
that biochar increased the ability and capacity of soil to retain water and
improve crop yields. No-till corn grown with added biochar had higher yields
than corn grown without it.
CenUSA is working with “Extension Master Gardeners” at Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota to see
whether biochar could be a useful soil amendment for home gardens and a
valuable commercial product for the horticulture industry.
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| Master Gardener's studying biochar's impact on garden plots |
Extension Master Gardener programs like the one conducted by the
University of Minnesota, train individuals who then serve as volunteer Extension Master Gardeners in their communities. Jill Euken, Deputy Director of Iowa State University's Bioeconomy Institute and Director of CenUSA’s Extension and
Outreach describes the “pay it forward” effect volunteer Extension Master Gardeners often have.
“There are lots of people interested in gardening who are
hungry for information on how to garden well,” said Euken. “Extension Master Gardener
programs taught by the Land Grants offer a fairly extensive training program to
volunteers who give back by educating others.”
Each summer 50-60 Extension Master Gardener volunteers learn about biochar by testing it on demonstration
garden plots growing lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, various flowers
and woody herbaceous plants.
The 100 square foot plots are divided into sections, each
with a different amount of biochar applied: none (as a control), 150 pounds and
300 pounds.
Lynne Hagen, Extension Master Gardener Coordinator for the University
of Minnesota and CenUSA collaborator has said the initial trials of biochar may
show an increase in soil quality, although results have been mixed.
Could biochar be the garden phenomenon of the future? Stay
tuned for more updates about CenUSA’s Extension Master Gardener demonstration plots!
