Project Number: 3625-11120-003-10
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Oct 22, 2008
End Date: Aug 31, 2011

Objective:
The objectives of the biochar research are to quantify the effects of amending soils with biochar on crop productivity, soil quality, carbon sequestration and water quality.

Approach:
The biochar will be shipped to ARS locations around the US for various field and laboratory studies. Field trials will involve incorporation of biochar in replicated field plots and on-farm strip trials with monitoring of crop yields, soil quality, water quality, emissions of greenhouse gasses, and soil carbon sequestration. Laboratory studies will involve amending soils with biochar and quantifying changes in soil quality and microbial activity during incubations. ARS locations that have expressed interest in participating in the biochar trials incude: National Soil Tilth Laboratory, Ames IA; Coastal Plains Soil, Water and Plants Research Center, Florence, SC; Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research Laboratory, Kimberly, ID; and Vegetable and Forage Crops Research Unit, Prosser, WA. Other ARS locations may participate in the future.