NEWAPP Biochar market for soil conditioning Bárbara de Mena ttz Bremerhaven NEWAPP Workshop EUBCE 2015 Vienna - Austria
Jan 05, 2016
NEWAPPBiochar market for soil
conditioning
Bárbara de Menattz Bremerhaven
NEWAPP WorkshopEUBCE 2015 Vienna - Austria
Contents
1. Biochar /Hydrochar: advantages for soil application
2. Biochar – Properties3. Biochar – Difficulties4. Hydrochar – Advantages5. Hydrochar – Difficulties6. Potential market: Substitution of peat7. Challenges and opportunities
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Biochar /Hydrochar
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• Most data so far refers to pyrolysis biochar (=„biochar“)
• Some data for hydrothermal carbonization char (=„hydrochar“)... But still research needed
Biochar /Hydrochar: advantages
• Both a significant, long-term sink for CO2 in terrestrial ecosystems
• Positive effects in reducing emmissions, and• Increasing the sequestration of GHG, and
• Application on soil delivers immediate benefits
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Biochar – Properties
• High cation exchange capacity
• Increases the soil water holding capacity
• Excellent habitat for microorganisms (micropores)
• Enhances mycorrhizal activity, which increases nutrient cycling
• Adsorption of heavy metals
• Reduction of leaching of nutrients
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Biochar - Difficulties
• Properties depend on feedstock and process
• Increases yields in degraged and low-fertility soils, not for already fertile sites
• Practical: Application without wetting can result in high losses
• Perceived as expensive
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Hydrochar – Advantages
• Less likely to deteriorate in storage
• Very high meso- and micro porous surface area
=increased water holding capacity
=promotes microbial colony growth
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Hydrochar – Difficulties
• Soil amendment with hydrochar has not been thoroughly researched
• Germination inhibition
• Different effects on soil microbial communities, depending on feedstock
• Avoidance behavior described in some invertebrates
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Potential market: Substitution of peat
• Peat dominates the market for substrates (average content 93%)
9 /13Source: Garten e.V., 2010
Potential market: Substitution of peat
Peat use in the EU:
- 22 Mm3 for professional horticulture (86% peat)-15 Mm3 for hobby gardening (69% peat)
More than 29 Mm3 of peat used yearly
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Substitution of peat: Economic dimension
High variability of prices depending on supplier, type, etc.
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Aiming at a replacement of just 15% (ca. 4,4 Mm3 ) for soil conditioning, the market
volume excedes 100 Mio. €
Challenges and opportunities
1. Challenges
• Development of standards (NEWAPP is working on this!)
• Detoxification of hydrochar (i.e. composting)
• Research needed in other areas
2. Opportunities:
• Increase soil fertility / Prevent leaching of nutrients
• Carbon sequestration
• Decrease GHG emmisions from soil
• Waste management strategy12 /13
Bárbara De Menattz Bremerhaven Fischkai, 127572 Bremerhavenemail: bdemena@ttz-
bremerhaven.deTel. : +49 47180934 153
Thank you for your attention!