Greenhouse gas emissions and agronomic effects from biochar applications at field scale in Norway
Adam O’Toole, Hanna Silvennoinen*, and Daniel P. Rasse
* presenting author
Bioforsk Soil and Environment, Ås, Norway. www.bioforsk.no/biochar adam.otoole@bioforsk.no

• Biochar-C stability? Is linked to pyrolysis temp. at which biochar is produced 1 , however limited field data showing the extent of biochar-C mineralization and effects on native SOM mineralization in ag. soils
(eg. Does Priming of SOM occur?)
• GHG impact?: Previous studies 2 have shown reductions of N
2
O in biochar amended fields but no field data show the duration of this effect.
• Agronomy? Meta analyses 3 estimate ~10% average yield increases in biochar studies, but little published data avail. for Nordic countries
1 Mašek et al. 2011, Fuel. 103: 151-155 2 Taghizadeh-Toosi, et al. (2011). JEQ 40(2); Zhang et al.(2012)Fld Crps Res. 127, 153-160 3 Jefferey et al. 2011. Ag. Eco. Env. 144: 175-187

Experiment 1: To estimate the stability of biochar-C under field conditions and BC impact on GHG emissions
Experiment 2: Assess agronomic impacts from biochar application as part of a Northern European ring trial.

• Measuring the δ 13 C signature and CO
2 efflux of a C3 soil after additons of
Miscanthus (C4 plant) derived biochar
C4 plants: ~ 15‰
δ 13 C
Miscanthus
Oats
C3 SOM: ~ 30‰

• GHG measurement: Closed static chambers, Infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) for CO
2 efflux (2 mins per chamber),
Piccaro G1101-i for δ 13 C measurements
• Keeling plot method used to isolate soil respired CO
2 in chamber measurements (3, 8, 1440 min).
• Larger closed chambers for N
2
O, vial measurements taken at 0,15,30, 45 min. and measured via GC

• Miscanthus giganteus (C4 plant) feedstock
• Produced by Pyreg Gmbh (Germany)
Pyroysis temperature 500-750 °
C
• Fixed C = 70% VM= 7% Ash= 23%
• pH: 10
• BET: 349 m 2 g -1
• Soil: Inceptisol, Sandy Clay Loam, TOC: 2.5 %

• Biochar inverse ploughed in the fall of 2010. New application in 2012 (mini plots for N
2
O study
• Crops – 2011 Oats
2012 Barley
2013 Oats
• Fertilizer: Ammonium
Nitrate (NPK 22-3-10,
550 kg ha -1)
Ås
(University of Life Sciences, field station)

• 16 plots (6 x 4 m) / 4 plots (1.5 x 1.5 m miniplots)
• 5 treatments x 4 reps
• Randomized block design
1. Control – no amendments
2. Straw 8t C ha -1 (2010)
3. Biochar 8 t C ha -1 (2010)
4. Biochar 25 t C ha -1 (2010)
5. Biochar 25 t C ha-1 (New application 2012 for N
2
O trial)
(mini plots)

(Apr-Nov 2012)

2011
Soil respiration 2011
0,800
0,700
0,600
0,500
0,400
0,300
0,200
0,100
0,000
17.05.2011
06.06.2011
26.06.2011
16.07.2011
05.08.2011
25.08.2011
14.09.2011
Miscanthus 8t C ha-1
Control
Biochar 8t C ha-1
Biochar 25t C ha-1
2012
No significant differences between treatments

Cumulative C loss – 2011-2012
C4 plant-C related loss
Control
Straw 8 t C ha -1
Biochar 8 t C ha -1
Biochar 25 t C daa -1
CO
2
-C loss
Contribution to CO
2
Contribution to CO
2 g m -2
461
467
439
472 g m -2
-
76
5
9
%
-
16
1
2
C loss from straw and biochar
%
-
9.5% ~x 20
0.6%
0.4%

Straw and Biochar-C loss after Potassium Dichromate (K
(Budai et al. In prep.)
2
Cr
2
O
7
) oxidation
100%
~350-450 °
C threshold for inc. stability
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Straw Bc 250 ° C BC 300 ° C BC 500 ° C Bc 700 ° C

N
2
O flux 2012 fertilization harvest
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
Control
BC8
BC25
BC25 new
0 apr mai jun jul aug sep okt

4
2
0
6
8
10
2
2012 growing season
16.4.- 28.9
2.5.- 28.9
Control BC8 BC25 BC25 new

Project objective:
“ To develop, implement and disseminate the biochar-strategy in the North Sea Region (NSR) for climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation by increasing soil quality and stability with soil biochar amendments.
”
• 7 countries around the North Sea:
UK, NO, SE, DK, DE, NL, BE
• Period 2009-2013
17

• Field trial objective:
“To test the effect of one wood based biochar on soil quality and crop growth according to a standard protocol, across different soil types and climates of the North Sea Region .”
• Feedstock: mix of Picea abies Abies alba Pinus sylvestris Fagus sylvatica Quercus robur
• Pyrolysis temperature: 450-480 ° C
• Dose: 20t/ha
Biochar characteristics
18

Transnational field trials
• Biochar application date in Norway: spring 2012
• Treatments: 1) biochar, 2) control
• Replicates: 4
• Crop
• 2012: spring barley (DE: winter wheat)
• 2013: free crop choice
19

350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
500
450
400

50
0
150
100
250
200
Biokull Kontroll

60
50
40
80
70
30
20
10
0 biochar control
Total Earthworms collected from field site plots
2 cores taken from 4 replicate plots per treatment (total 8 cores per treatment)

Experiment 1
• Control 1.30 g cm 3
• Biochar 8 t 1.16 g cm 3
• Straw 8 t 1.19 g cm 3
• Biochar 25 t 1.22 g cm 3
Experiment 2
• Biochar
• Control
± 0.04
± 0.11
± 0.07
± 0.05
1.06 g cm 3 ± 0.05
1.17 g cm 3 ± 0.09

• Biochar appeared to be Stabil and did not prime native C
• Plant yields similar over all treatments in two wet seasons in a clay loam Norwegian soil
• Reductions in bulk density and increases in worm populations could have a benefits for root growth, but needs more study

Acknowledgements
Raphael Fauches
Monique Carnol, University of Liege
Svend Pung – SKP, UMB
Toril Trædal (UMB)
Christophe Moni, Farshad Tami and Robert Barneveld
Funding: Matprogrammet, Norwegian Research
Council. Interreg IV NSR program and SLF
Our website: www.bioforsk.no/biochar