Biochar field testing in the UK: Outcomes and implications for use

Jim Hammond; Simon Shackley; Miranda Prendergast-Miller; Jason Cook; Sarah Buckingham; Valentini A. Pappa

doi:10.4155/cmt.13.3

Biochar field testing in the UK: Outcomes and implications for use

Jim Hammond^*, Simon Shackley, Miranda Prendergast-Miller, Jason Cook, Sarah Buckingham, Valentini A. Pappa

^*Corresponding author for this work

Environment and Geography

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: There is a lack of biochar field trials in temperate climate regions. Wood biochar was applied during 2009-2011 to seven field experiments on five working farms in the UK, for arable, legume, horticultural and root crops. Results: Three trials showed no significant (p > 0.05) effect on crop yield, two showed positive effects of 5-6%, one showed a very strong increase of 100% and one showed a decrease of 2-16%. A meta-analysis of effect sizes was conducted for all treatments (n = 47), which showed a significant (p < 0.05) positive effect, increasing average yield by 0.4 t ha^-1. Biochar application rates of 20 t ha^-1 or under led to the greater benefits. Conclusion: This paper shows that, in some situations, biochar can bring benefits in modern temperate farming.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	159-170
Number of pages	12
Journal	Carbon Management
Volume	4
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4155/cmt.13.3
Publication status	Published - Apr 2013

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abstract = "Background: There is a lack of biochar field trials in temperate climate regions. Wood biochar was applied during 2009-2011 to seven field experiments on five working farms in the UK, for arable, legume, horticultural and root crops. Results: Three trials showed no significant (p > 0.05) effect on crop yield, two showed positive effects of 5-6%, one showed a very strong increase of 100% and one showed a decrease of 2-16%. A meta-analysis of effect sizes was conducted for all treatments (n = 47), which showed a significant (p < 0.05) positive effect, increasing average yield by 0.4 t ha-1. Biochar application rates of 20 t ha-1 or under led to the greater benefits. Conclusion: This paper shows that, in some situations, biochar can bring benefits in modern temperate farming.",

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AU - Hammond, Jim

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AU - Cook, Jason

AU - Buckingham, Sarah

AU - Pappa, Valentini A.

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Biochar field testing in the UK: Outcomes and implications for use

Abstract

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