Who we are?
The Australian and New Zealand Biochar Researchers Network is a collaborative group of scientists interested in advancing the understanding and application of biochar materials. Collectively our aim is to collaborate on research programs, promote and advocate the adoption of biochar investigation and use, and communicate the opportunities presented by biochar to policy makers, land managers, the public, industry and fellow scientists.
Committee
The Committee members, representing over 30 scientists from more than 10 institutions, are currently:
Dr Annette Cowie (NSW DPI)
Ms Adriana Downie (University of NSW, Pacific Pyrolysis)
Prof Stephen Joseph (University of NSW)
Dr Evelyn Krull (CSIRO)
Dr Attilio Pigneri (Massey University)
Dr Lukas Van Zwieten (NSW DPI)
What is biochar?
Biochar is the carbon-rich solid product resulting from the heating
of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment. Due to its highly aromatic
structure, biochar is chemically and biologically more stable compared
with the organic matter from which it was made.
For more information and a list of some frequently asked questions about biochar, please see “biochar basics”
What is the objective of the Network?
The Network aims to provide a forum that brings together biochar
researchers and practitioners from Australia and New Zealand. The
Network is dedicated to all facets of biochar research, including soil
productivity enhancement, carbon sequestration, waste management, risk
assessment and environmental management, sustainability of feedstock
supply, greenhouse gas mitigation and bioenergy co-production. Our
focus is centred on biochar research in the Australian and New Zealand
context; however, we also engage in and encourage broader international
collaboration.
The Network recommends the use of biochars made
from sustainably harvested and renewable biomass resources. The use of
biomass for the production of biochar should not diminish essential
environmental services, such as maintenance of water and air quality,
protection of soil resources, and conservation of biodiversity. Biochar
research should focus on biochar applications that deliver a net
environmental benefit.
We strongly recommend the use of
biochar production processes that meet Australian/New Zealand
environmental, health and safety standards. Production pathways should
not make a net contribution of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, or
adversely affect air and water quality.
In the
long-term, we aim to develop and promote the use of a production
guideline for the manufacture and application of sustainable
biochar products. Such a guideline would include the use of a closed
vessel, capture and usage of the evolved gases and environmental
process controls. This is to ensure that relevant environmental
regulations are met and biochar production is part of an overall
environmentally sustainable process. The production of a safe
biochar product needs to ensure a decreased volatile carbon content and
significantly increased fixed carbon content in the product compared
with the feedstock. The process must increase the aromatic nature of
the product. This is considered the essential step in stabilising the
carbon in the biomass to effectively remove it from the short-term
carbon cycle and enable long-term organic carbon sequestration in
soil.
What directions may future biochar research lead?
The Network hopes to ensure effective research collaborations to
facilitate the sharing of knowledge and filling gaps in understanding
with validated, scientifically robust information. The following
topics are just some examples of areas for ongoing and future research:
Interaction of biochar with soil microbial communities and plants:
The
physical, biological and chemical processes that biochar may exert on
microbial communities and thWhat directions may future biochar research
lead?eir symbiotic interaction with plants, and possibly enhanced
nutrient use efficiency, are not yet understood. The apparent
contradiction between the high stability of biochar, soil organic
matter accumulation and apparent enhancement of soil microbial activity
needs to be resolved. Research in Japan and in Germany has
indicated that biochar can complex the carbon from dead
micro-organisms. Further research work is required to determine
under what conditions this complexation takes place.
Cation exchange capacity (CEC):
While
the CEC of fresh char itself is not very high biochar that has resided
in soil for hundreds of years has been shown to have much higher CECs,
comparable to those of zeolites. However, several studies have reported
an increase in soil CEC after the application of fresh biochar. Thus,
the processes that are instrumental in developing CEC over time as well
as the effects that lead to an increase in CEC by addition of fresh
(low CEC) biochar require detailed understanding.
Water holding capacity:
The
contribution that biochar can make to water retention,
macro-aggregation and soil stability is poorly understood – yet should
be of critical importance in climate change adaptation, where
mitigating drought, nutrient loss and erosion are critical.
Synergistic effects:
The
interactions of biochar with soil organic matter as well as the mineral
matrix need to be assessed in order to determine the nature and the
environmental conditions under which synergistic effects develop.
Erosion, transport and fate:
The
loss of biochar through vertical or lateral flow is not quantified, and
only recently have studies been initiated to examine movement through
soil profiles and into water ways. It should be noted however that
transport of biochar through the profile does not impact on its direct
carbon sequestration potential.
Decreased emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases (e.g. N2O and CH4):
The
currently available data on the effect of biochar additions on trace
gas emission is very limited, but has a potentially great impact on the
net benefit of biochar application. Development of cost effective means
of measuring decreased emissions will ensure this potentially large
greenhouse saving can be compliant with emissions trading schemes.
Soil carbon modelling:
Modelling
of the linked carbon and nitrogen cycles in soil with and without
application of biochar is essential to understanding the fundamental
mechanisms referred to above, and the impact on soil-based emissions of
greenhouse gases.
Project specific Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):
The
total environmental life cycle assessment has been conducted for some
biochar case studies. Greenhouse balances, for example, are very
project specific and hence there is opportunity to assess the benefits
over a large range of feedstock, process and biochar application
scenarios.