This is a short document about biochar and its climate-smart benefits. Biochar is charcoal produced through pyrolysis, where organic matter is heated with limited or no oxygen. Two by-products can be used as bio-fuel (bio-oil and gas). The quantity of carbon (C) in the biochar depends on the type of feedstock used. For example, the woody feedstock will deliver a higher carbon biochar than the herbaceous feedstock. The quality obtained depends on the organic matter type and pyrolysis temperature. The critical factors determining the quality are the adsorption (the process by which molecules (such as gases, liquids, or dissolved substances) adhere to the surface of a solid or liquid), the cation exchange capacity (the ability of soil or other materials to hold and exchange cations (positively charged ions, such as calcium (Ca²⁺), potassium (K⁺), or magnesium (Mg²⁺))., and the low levels of mobile matter (tars, resin, and other short-lived compounds). Converting biomass C to biochar results in the storage of 50% of the initial C, compared to only 3% of the C remaining after burning and 10 to 20% of C sequestered after biological decomposition.
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Agricultural run-off and subsurface drainage tiles transport a significant amount of nitrogen and phosphorus leached after fertilization. alchemia-nova GmbH in collaboration with University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna developed two multi-layer vertical filter systems to address the agricultural run-off issue, which has been installed on the slope of an agricultural field in Mistelbach, Austria. While another multi-layer addressing subsurface drainage water is implemented in Gleisdorf, Austria. The goal is to develop a drainage filter system to retain water and nutrients. Both multi-layer filter systems contain biochar and other substrates with adsorption properties of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus). The filter system can be of practical use if an excess of nutrients being washed out is of concern in the fields of the practitioner by keeping the surrounding waters clean. This approach may result in economic value by re-using the saturated biochar as fertilizer and improving the soil structure, thus increasing long-term soil fertility. Link: https://wateragri.eu/a-bio-inspired-multilayer-drainage-system/
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735. FACTSHEET NANOCELLULOSE MEMBRANES FOR NUTRIENT RECOVERY Key information Functionalized nanocellulose membranes can take up nitrate and phosphate. These membranes can be put in a water treatment unit. As the membranes are biobased, degradable materials, they can after use be added to the soil, thus returning the leached nutrients back for their original purpose providing fertilizers (nutrient recycling).
Because variables such as temperature and humidity have a profound effect on the activity of crop pests, diseases and natural enemies, the ability to monitor environmental conditions within a crop has always been important for crop protection.