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Don Hofstrand Agricultural Economist Co-director, Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. Iowa State University Extension President, Rural Development Partners
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Comparison of traditional rainforest soils (left) with biochar plot (right)
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Agronomic Benefits of Biochar Increase soil organic matter Improve cation exchange capacity Increase microbial activity Improve nutrient efficiency Improve soil pH Increase yields
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Environmental Benefits of Biochar Sequesters carbon
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Biomass Pyrolysis to Reduce Atmospheric Carbon* Current situation – 4.9 gigaton increase per year Pyrolysis -- 4.0 gigaton increase per year 50% of Global Crop Residues 50% of Global Forestry Residues Pyrolysis – 3.1 gigaton increase per year 50% of Global Crop Residues, 67% of Forestry and Below Ground Biomass (stumpage) Forest Thinning * Review of the pyrolysis platform for coproducting bio-oil and biochar
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Environmental Benefits of Biochar Sequesters carbon Reduce nitrous oxide emissions Reduces carbon emssions by reducing fertilizer and lime application. Reduce nutrient runoff Other
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GHG Emissions from Corn Ethanol Corn Production Fertilizer and Lime15% Nitrous Oxide Emissions 25% Seed and Pesticides3% Fuel, LP Gas & Electricity 7% Biorefinery Natural Gas 34% Electricity 11% Grain Transport & Other 5% Total100%
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Biochar Revenue from Crop Residue One ton of crop residue =.45 to.67 ton of CO 2 $20 per ton CO 2 = $9.00 to $13.40 per ton crop residue $50 per ton CO 2 = $22.50 to $33.50 per ton crop residue
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Pyrolysis Produces Biochar and Bioenergy
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Co-products of Biomass Pyrolysis Biochar (high energy density solid) Bio-oil (high energy density liquid) Synthesis Gas (syngas) ( low energy density gas)
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Bio-Oil & Syngas Operate pyrolysis facility Co-fire electricity production Transportation fuel (gas and diesel) Renewable ammonia Other
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Indirect Land Use Conversion Food versus Fuel versus Carbon Corn Ethanol -- (compete with each other) Biochar Pyrolysis -- (compliment each other)
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Ag Marketing Resource Center Renewable Energy & Climate Change Newsletter (AgMRC.org). International Biochar Initiative (http://www.biochar-international.org/) U.S. Biochar Conference – June – Iowa State University (http://www.biorenew.iastate.edu/events/bio char2010/registration.html)
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