Initiatives I - BIOCHAR - International Science Network

Project title

Implementation of biochar for sustainable agriculture in Poland:

Socio-environmental outcomes and economic viability

Part 1. Field trials

Project coordination

Opole University of Technology

Partners

International Institute for Sustainability
Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences
University of Agriculture in Krakow
Cracow University of Technology
FLUID Spółka Akcyjna

Team

Agnieszka Latawiec (Opole University of Technology, International Institute for Sustainability, University of East Anglia) – project coordinator
Jolanta Krolczyk (Opole University of Technology)
Grzegorz Krolczyk (Opole University of Technology)
Agnieszka Medynska-Juraszek (Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences)
Maciej Kubon (University of Agriculture in Krakow)
Agnieszka Sobczak-Kupiec (Cracow University of Technology)
Ewa Polańczyk (Opole University of Technology)

Patronage

Department of Biosystems Engineering, Opole Univeristy of Technology
Prof Katarzyna Szwedziak (Opole University of Technology)
Prof Marek Tukiendorf (Opole University of Technology)

Description

The field experiment was designed to investigate the potential of biochar to improve soil properties and increase agricultural productivity. The selected plants were maize and rapeseed on the account of being common agricultural crops in Poland. In addition, their current productivity is relatively low as compared with the potential maximum sustainable productivity. Moreover, a range of experiments from other countries show that yields of these crops increased after application of biochar. To our knowledge, this is the first experiment to verify whether the same can happen in polish conditions.

The experiment was set up in the mid April 2014 in the suburbs of Opole on poor agricultural soils. Three replicates of experimental sites (3 x 3 meters) were set up and three control sites were also established (Picture 1). The monitoring of the trials is planned not only for the coming season but also for several years in the future to observe the prolonged effects of the biochar in soil. Soil was analyzed with respect to pH, nutrient content, cation exchange capacity, water holding capacity and the same will be done at the end of the season wherein biomass will be also measured.

Fig. 1 Setting up the experiments. Photos by Agnieszka Latawiec/OUTech

Biochar used in the experiments was kindly provided free of charge by Fluid S.A. It was produced in the process of pyrolysis using residues from the sawmill (mixture of wastes from coniferous trees as pine and spruce). Biochar was applied up to depth of 30 cm at 50t/ha rate, was mixed by ploughing and followed by sowing of maize seeds (Picture 2).

Mixing of biochar with soil. Photo by Agnieszka LatawiecOUTech — Fig. 2 Mixing of biochar with soil. Photo by Agnieszka Latawiec/OUTech

The biochar was characterized not only with respect to chemical properties such as sorption properties, macro and micronutrients (NH₄⁺, NO₃^–, P total and available, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B) content and toxic compounds content (such as heavy metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) but was also scanned using InfiniteFocus Measurement Machine to observe itstructure and surface area.

Biochar Photo by Agnieszka LatawiecOUTech — Fig. 3 Biochar used for the experiments. Photo by Agnieszka Latawiec/OUTech

The progress of the experimental work:

1. Maize – First results – 4^th June 2014 (42 days after sieving)

Experimental field with biochar – after 42 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta KrolczykOUTech — Fig. 4 Experimental field with biochar – after 42 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta Krolczyk/OUTech

Experimental field with biochar – after 42 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta KrolczykOUTech2 — Fig. 5 Experimental field with biochar – after 42 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta Krolczyk/OUTech

Already after a few weeks of the experiment duration we observed differences in plans growth. Maize growing on the field with biochar was visibly bigger than maize growing on the sites without biochar (right and left photo panel, respectively). Obviously, at the end of the first cropping cycle (August 2014) soil and biomass analyses will be performed to verify any observed differences.

Experimental field without biochar – after 42 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta KrolczykOUTech — Fig. 6 Experimental field without biochar – after 42 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta Krolczyk/OUTech

Experimental field without biochar – after 42 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta KrolczykOUTech2 — Fig. 7 Experimental field without biochar – after 42 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta Krolczyk/OUTech

First weed – researcher Jolanta Krolczyk and students — Fig. 8 First weed – researcher Dr Jolanta Krolczyk and students: Joanna Moczko, Karolina Inglot, Katarzyna Bendarz, Patrycja Gronek, Paulina Sitarska, Aleksandra Duszyńska, Maciej Fujarczuk (from left). Photo by Jolanta Krolczyk/OUTech

Maize – Field visit – 26^th June 2014 (64 days after sieving)

Fig. 9 Experimental field with biochar – after 64 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta Krolczyk/OUTech

Fig. 10 Experimental field without biochar – after 64 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta Krolczyk/OUTech

Fig. 11 Visiting the field – researcher Dr Jolanta Krolczyk and students: Karolina Daraż, Maciej Fujarczuk, Gabriel Kolender, Patrycja Gronek, Paulina Sitarska, Joanna Moczko, Katrzyna Bednarz (from right). Photo by Jolanta Krolczyk/OUTech

Maize – Field visit – 31^st July 2014 (102 days after sieving)

Fig. 12 Experimental field with biochar (left) and without biochar (right) – after 102 days after sieving. Photo by Agnieszka Latawiec/OUTech

Fig. 13 Visiting the field – researcher Dr Jolanta Krolczyk , students: Gabriel Kolender, Patrycja Gronek, Joanna Moczko and researcher Agnieszka Latawiec (from left). Photo by Agnieszka Latawiec/OUTech

4. Maize – Field visit – 28^th August 2014 (130 days after sieving)

Fig. 14 Experimental field with biochar – after 130 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta KrolczykOUTech

Fig. 15 Experimental field without biochar – after 130 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta KrolczykOUTech

5. Maize – Field visit – 25^th September 2014 (155 days after sieving)

Fig. 16 Experimental field with biochar – after 155 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta KrolczykOUTech

Fig. 17 Experimental field without biochar – after 155 days after sieving. Photo by Jolanta KrolczykOUTech

Visiting the field - technical assistant Waldemar Księżak, Prof Katarzyna Szwedziak, PhD student Ewa Polanczyk, Researcher Dr Jolanta Krolczyk — Fig. 18 Visiting the field – technical assistant Waldemar Księżak, Prof Katarzyna Szwedziak, PhD student Ewa Polanczyk, Researcher Dr Jolanta Krolczyk

Biometric measurement - visible results - with biochar (left) and without biochar (right). Photo by Jolanta KrolczykOUTech — Fig. 19 Biometric measurement – visible results – with biochar (left) and without biochar (right). Photo by Jolanta KrolczykOUTech