Biochar Field trial results in Norway Adam O’Toole, Daniel P. Rasse, 2 Bjørn Lilleeng 1 Bioforsk Soil and Environment, Ås, Norway. 2 Norsk Landbruksrådgiving Gudbrandsdalen Støttet av:

Field trials in Norway Sel Ås Notodden

Introduction Carbonizing biomass renders plant-C more resistant to biological breakdown – a feature making it attractive for increasing soil C stocks.

Ås – Can biochar be used for carbon storage?

Biochar is a novel solution for increasing Soil C and reducing atomospheric CO 2 …provided that it: It is in fact stable, and leads to an overall increase in soil-C Does not pose a risk to food production and soil health

To estimate the stability of biochar-C and effects of biochar on native soil-C under field conditions Purpose of study

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

Methods Equipment: Closed static chambers, Infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) for CO 2 efflux and Piccaro G1101-i for δ 13 C measurements) Keeling plot method used to isolate soil respired CO 2 in chamber measurements.

Biochar and Soil description Feedstock: Miscanthus giganteus (Elephant Grass) Produced by Pyreg Gmbh (Germany) Pyroysis temperature °C Fixed C = 70% VM= 7% Ash= 23% Total N: 2.5 g kg-1 Total P: 1.3 g kg-1 Total K:4.8 g kg-1 pH: 10 BET: 349 m 2 g -1 Soil: Inceptisol, Sandy Clay Loam, TOC: 2.5 %

Field Trial Biochar inverse ploughed in the fall of crop: Oats 2012 crop: Barley

Experimental Design 16 plots - 4 treatments x 4 reps 1.Miscanthus Biochar 8 t C ha -1 2.Miscanthus residue 8t C ha -1 3.Control – no amendments 4.Miscanthus Biochar 25 t C ha -1 Randomized block design

Results Average for season 0.33C 0.32MC8 0.31BC8 0.29BC25

δ13 C measurements δ13 CSD (n=2) Control-29,80,4 Biochar 8 t-29,60,3 Biochar 25 t-29,42,0 Miscanthus 8 t-26,81,6

Contribution of C4 derived C to soil-C loss

No significant diff. Between treatments +6% -5% Oat grain yield (kg per dekar)

No significant diff. Between treatments

What can we conclude so far on soil and plant effects?

Heavy metal content Biochar was well under the legal limits set for soil amendments in Norway

Conclusion Preliminary first year results Appeared relatively stabil and did not prime native C Did not lead to decreased plant and grain yields More years are required to establish a trend

Interreg: Climate Saving Soils project Field Trial: Simmenstad Farm, Sel. Norway

Experimental Design 16 plots - 4 treatments x 4 reps Fertilizer 1.Biochar 2t daa kg N daa -1 2.Sludge 2t daa -1 6 kg N daa -1 3.Biochar 2t + sludge 2t daa -1 6 kg N daa -1 4.Control – no amendments 10 kg N daa -1 Randomized block design

A poor year for grain in Norway Photo: Karl Erik Berge (Nationen

Flood in Gudbrandsdalen, June mm in one week (normal 50 mm/mth) 441mm from June 01 – Sept 29 (normal 228 mm)

Soil erosion from the flood

The field in July – flood effects

Soil water and temperature effects

Plant and grain yields

Barley grain yield Sel 2011

Yield as compared to 5 year average barley yield (kg daa-1)

Thanks for your attention Our website: Acknowledgements -Svend Pung – SKP, UMB -Toril Trædal (UMB) -Bjørn Lilleeng (NLR) Gudbrandsdalen -Kåre Simmenstad (farmer) -Christophe Moni, Farshad Tami and Robert Barneveld Funding: Matprogrammet, Norwegian Research Council. Interreg IV NSR program and SLF