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GoalHo`oponoponoCorrect the imbalanceMake it right
1. Reduce atmospheric CO2 levels by sequestering carbon in the
form of biochar in soil2. Become self reliant again for energy use
and food production
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ObjectiveKuleanaAssume responsibility
1. Burn local biomass for energy and carbon sequestration2.
Improve agricultural sustainability by biochar carbon
sequestration
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KauaiThe Garden Island
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Lack of Soil Renewal in Hawai
Volcanic eruptionsGlaciationUpliftLoessVegetation
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AndisolsHistisolsOxisolsVertisolsTradewinds
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VertisolOxisolAndisol
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Kauai Oxisol Test SoilsParameterConditionTarget
pH< 5.05.8 - 6.3P ppm7 20> 30K ppm40 70> 250Ca ppm<
500> 1500Mg ppm< 200> 400
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Kauai Oxisol Soils- Some of the most weathered soils in the
worldClay soil but all silicon leached- ore-level richness in iron
and aluminum oxidesVery low cation exchange capacityFixes
phosphates and nitratesVery low pH
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PhotoKauai soil road cutCalcium Silicate added
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Feedstock tested:
AlbizziaJava Plum
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Biochar Production
Barrel retortAPL char retortPitMicrowave catalyst
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Experimental Design 1
Control , Char 40, Fertilizer, Char 40 + Fertilizer10
replicatesExperimental Design 2
Control , Char 5+F, Char 10+F, Char 20 +F, Char 40+F, Fertilizer
5 replicatesFertilizer application = 1.0 lb 16-16-16 mix per 100
square foot equivalent, or 400 lbs per acre
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Tomato Experiment 19Total Reproductive Structures
Chart1
000.9001.6
00.422.22.61.4
00.20.41.640.2
011.43.24.40
002.23.850
Control
Char 5
Char 10
Char 20
Char 40
Fertilizer
Sheet1
Experiment
T-19T-19UnitCharTreatmentHeight9-Mar16-Mar23-Mar30-Mar6-Apr*18-Apr25-Apr2-May9-May
planted February 1, 2011C01CControl3-Mar11
C02CControl3-Mar15
replant of C-10 in same potsC03CControl3-Mar9
replant of T-11C04CControl3-Mar9
C05CControl3-Mar9
C05-01CharChar53-Mar13
C05-02CharChar53-Mar
C05-03CharChar53-Mar16
C05-04CharChar53-Mar164b 1f2f 3x
C05-05CharChar53-Mar131b,1f1x
C10-01CharChar103-Mar155x,1b
C10-02CharChar103-Mar112x2b 1f4b 3x
C10-03CharChar103-Mar223-5 b& or f2x2x3b 1x3b 1x
C10-04CharChar103-Mar19
C10-05CharChar103-Mar15
C20-01CharChar203-Mar113b3b 7x1Y 5f 2b 5x
C20-02CharChar203-Mar9
C20-03CharChar203-Mar121f,4b3x,1b2x2x
C20-04CharChar203-Mar5
C20-05CharChar203-Mar202Y,1f2x,2Y2x 2Y2x 2Y
C40-01CharChar403-Mar191x3b 1x1b 2f 1x
C40-02CharChar403-Mar182f2x2Y2Y
C40-03CharChar403-Mar14
C40-04CharChar403-Mar111x,4b6b,4f,1x7x 3f 1b11x 2f 1Y
C40-05CharChar403-Mar192Y,1f,3b2b,2x,2Y3x 2Y3x 2Y
F01FSoil+NPK3-Mar14
F02FSoil+NPK3-Mar4
F03FSoil+NPK3-Mar113-5 b& or f1x,2fwilted
F04FSoil+NPK3-Mar13
F05FSoil+NPK3-Mar133-5 b& or f2x,1f,1b1f
C01CControl9-Mar13
C02CControl9-Mar16
C03CControl9-Mar186-Apr*18-Apr25-Apr2-May9-May
C04CControl9-Mar9Control00000
C05CControl9-Mar12Char 500.40.210
C05-01CharChar59-Mar23Char 100.920.41.42.2
C05-02CharChar59-Mar16Char 2002.21.63.23.8
C05-03CharChar59-Mar25Char 4002.644.45
C05-04CharChar59-Mar27Fertilizer1.61.40.200
C05-05CharChar59-Mar24
C10-01CharChar109-Mar23
C10-02CharChar109-Mar22
C10-03CharChar109-Mar32
C10-04CharChar109-Mar29
C10-05CharChar109-Mar19
C20-01CharChar209-Mar15
C20-02CharChar209-Mar23*begin flowering observations rather than
measurements
C20-03CharChar209-Mar22"b" buds; counted at ~.75 cm and larger
only
C20-04CharChar209-Mar"f" flower
C20-05CharChar209-Mar31"x" tiny fruits until they are visible
outside of the calyx
C40-01CharChar409-Mar31"Y" fruits once they are visble outside
of the calyx
C40-02CharChar409-Mar29
C40-03CharChar409-Mar23
C40-04CharChar409-Mar20
C40-05CharChar409-Mar33
F01FSoil+NPK9-Mar25
F02FSoil+NPK9-Mar6
F03FSoil+NPK9-Mar18
F04FSoil+NPK9-Mar23
F05FSoil+NPK9-Mar23
C01CControl16-Mar11
C02CControl16-Mar18
C03CControl16-Mar22
C04CControl16-Mar10
C05CControl16-Mar16
C05-01CharChar516-Mar40
C05-02CharChar516-Mar
C05-03CharChar516-Mar44
C05-04CharChar516-Mar46
C05-05CharChar516-Mar39
C10-01CharChar1016-Mar44
C10-02CharChar1016-Mar37
C10-03CharChar1016-Mar48
C10-04CharChar1016-Mar48
C10-05CharChar1016-Mar39
C20-01CharChar2016-Mar19
C20-02CharChar2016-Mar28
C20-03CharChar2016-Mar38
C20-04CharChar2016-Mar
C20-05CharChar2016-Mar55
C40-01CharChar4016-Mar38
C40-02CharChar4016-Mar47
C40-03CharChar4016-Mar36
C40-04CharChar4016-Mar39
C40-05CharChar4016-Mar50
F01FSoil+NPK16-Mar36
F02FSoil+NPK16-Mar12
F03FSoil+NPK16-Mar31
F04FSoil+NPK16-Mar35
F05FSoil+NPK16-Mar40
C01CControl23-Mar15
C02CControl23-Mar23
C03CControl23-Mar26
C04CControl23-Mar10
C05CControl23-Mar18
C05-01CharChar523-Mar58
C05-02CharChar523-Mar
C05-03CharChar523-Mar68
C05-04CharChar523-Mar67
C05-05CharChar523-Mar67
C10-01CharChar1023-Mar52
C10-02CharChar1023-Mar58
C10-03CharChar1023-Mar72
C10-04CharChar1023-Mar66
C10-05CharChar1023-Mar61
C20-01CharChar2023-Mar24
C20-02CharChar2023-Mar37
C20-03CharChar2023-Mar56
C20-04CharChar2023-Mar
C20-05CharChar2023-Mar76
C40-01CharChar4023-Mar40
C40-02CharChar4023-Mar47
C40-03CharChar4023-Mar62
C40-04CharChar4023-Mar66
C40-05CharChar4023-Mar70
F01FSoil+NPK23-Mar
F02FSoil+NPK23-Mar16
F03FSoil+NPK23-Mar50
F04FSoil+NPK23-Mar55
F05FSoil+NPK23-Mar56
C01CControl30-Mar
C02CControl30-Mar26
C03CControl30-Mar33
C04CControl30-Mar10
C05CControl30-Mar20
C05-01CharChar530-Mar71
C05-02CharChar530-Mar
C05-03CharChar530-Mar83
C05-04CharChar530-Mar90
C05-05CharChar530-Mar78
C10-01CharChar1030-Mar64
C10-02CharChar1030-Mar68
C10-03CharChar1030-Mar77
C10-04CharChar1030-Mar78
C10-05CharChar1030-Mar83
C20-01CharChar2030-Mar29
C20-02CharChar2030-Mar51
C20-03CharChar2030-Mar77
C20-04CharChar2030-Mar
C20-05CharChar2030-Mar93
C40-01CharChar4030-Mar43
C40-02CharChar4030-Mar61
C40-03CharChar4030-Mar83
C40-04CharChar4030-Mar76
C40-05CharChar4030-Mar89
F01FSoil+NPK30-Mar
F02FSoil+NPK30-Mar25
F03FSoil+NPK30-Mar66
F04FSoil+NPK30-Mar75
F05FSoil+NPK30-Mar73
C01CControl
C02CControl
C03CControl
C04CControl
C05CControl
C05-01CharChar5
C05-02CharChar5
C05-03CharChar5
C05-04CharChar5
C05-05CharChar5
C10-01CharChar10
C10-02CharChar10
C10-03CharChar10
C10-04CharChar10
C10-05CharChar10
C20-01CharChar20
C20-02CharChar20
C20-03CharChar20
C20-04CharChar20
C20-05CharChar20
C40-01CharChar40
C40-02CharChar40
C40-03CharChar40
C40-04CharChar40
C40-05CharChar40
F01FSoil+NPK
F02FSoil+NPK
F03FSoil+NPK
F04FSoil+NPK
F05FSoil+NPK
C01CControl
C02CControl
C03CControl
C04CControl
C05CControl
C05-01CharChar5
C05-02CharChar5
C05-03CharChar5
C05-04CharChar5
C05-05CharChar5
C10-01CharChar10
C10-02CharChar10
C10-03CharChar10
C10-04CharChar10
C10-05CharChar10
C20-01CharChar20
C20-02CharChar20
C20-03CharChar20
C20-04CharChar20
C20-05CharChar20
C40-01CharChar40
C40-02CharChar40
C40-03CharChar40
C40-04CharChar40
C40-05CharChar40
F01FSoil+NPK
F02FSoil+NPK
F03FSoil+NPK
F04FSoil+NPK
F05FSoil+NPK
Sheet1
Control
Char 5
Char 10
Char 20
Char 40
Fertilizer
Sheet2
Sheet3
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Chart1
34
38
43
42
54
Height
Peppers
Sheet1
Height
Fertilizer34
Char 538
Char 1043
Char 2042
Char 4054
To resize chart data range, drag lower right corner of
range.
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Peppers
Chart1
0
0
0.25
1.8
2.8
Fruits
Sheet1
Fruits
Fertilizer0
Char 50
Char 100.25
Char 201.8
Char 402.8
To resize chart data range, drag lower right corner of
range.
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Fertilizer onlyChar 40 + Fert
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Chart2
0.5
10.5
12.5
23
20
5
Dry Weight
weight (grams)
Biochar Trial - Tomato
Sheet1
TreatmentDaily FruitingDry Weight
Control00.5
Char51.510.5
Char100.512.5
Char20323
Char401.520
Soil+Fert0.25
Sheet1
Dry Weight
weight (grams)
Biochar Trial - Tomato
Sheet2
Daily Fruiting
daily fruiting
Biochar Trial Tomato
Sheet3
-
Chart1
0
1.5
0.5
3
1.5
0.2
Daily Fruiting
daily fruiting
Biochar Trial Tomato
Sheet1
TreatmentDaily FruitingDry Weight
Control00.5
Char51.510.5
Char100.512.5
Char20323
Char401.520
Soil+Fert0.25
Sheet1
Dry Weight
weight (grams)
Biochar Trial - Tomato
Sheet2
Daily Fruiting
daily fruiting
Biochar Trial Tomato
Sheet3
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Fertilizer onlyChar 40 + Fert
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ControlBiochar + FertilizerFertilizerRoot Development
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Conclusions Based on Greenhouse Trials Using Kauai Soils
Biochar alone does not improve plant growth or reproduction.,
must have nutrient inputsAll biochars seem to convey the same
benefits when nutrients are addedIn general, increasing application
rates of biochar+fert increased plant growth. Biochar amended soils
retain benefits through several plantingsBenefits of biochar were
primarily seen in reproduction
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MahaloUH-CCRT, NSF, HMI
***Our work centers on the island of Kauai. Misnamed the Garden
Island, Kauai actually has some of the poorest agricultural soils
in the world. If any place needs soil ammendment with biochar, and
if any soils would show improvement with biochar, it should be
Kauai. So we have been working on greenhouse trials using biochar
in Kauai soils. I need to explain a little about Hawaiian soils.The
Hawaiian islands lack several of the typical soil building
activities. Volcanism provides fertile soils on the younger
islands, but these nutrients do not last long as the islands
age.*Nutrients are deposited with new lava directly on the land,
but eruptions are not explosive and volcanic dust is taken away
from older islands by the trade winds. Vegetation can bring
nutrients up from deeper beds, but do not persist after the
vegetation is removed. The result is that we have relative nutrient
rich soils primarily on the younger islands. In fact, other than
wetand taro, we only have evidence of sustained upland agriculture
by Hawaiians in a few place on Hawaii and Maui. Most soils degrade
to clay oxisols.*We do have black soils in Hawaii but they are not
organic, and most of the soils the older islands, particularly
Kauai, are highly leached oxisols with a typical iron red
coloration. NO TOP SOIL. Nutrient profile is inverted, deeper
layers can be less leached. Leading HSPA to reccomended scraping
the top meter off these lands.*Plantations new there was little CEC
in these soils and addressed this by addition of calcium silicate.
Can we do the same thing with biochar?*While we did not compare
these directly, all gave roughly the same results. We did not meet
a char that we did not like.*Soils are so poor there is virtually
no growth without amendments. Adding Char did not improve growth
above the control. Fertilizer was required to increase growth.
About of the experiments showed this pattern of about the same
somatic growth in Fert and Fert+Char.*After 2 corn experiments and
NO additional fert added. As soils were depleted through plant
harvest and watering, biochar emmnded soils clearly showed
benefit.*Replant after 2 corn trials and 1 tomato trial, then more
fert added. The difference were lessoned when additional fert was
added, but Fert+Char retained elevated somatic growth over Fert
alone.*In about the experiments, first trial Char+Fert had
increased somatic growth over Fert alone. Higher applications of
biochar generated larger plants and more reproduction
generally.*But even in those experiments where somatic growth was
not elevated or marginally elevated..*Reproduction was
significantly higher in Char+Fert*Another example using peppers,
where the higher Char+Fert treatments had about 50% increase in
somatic growth..*Reproduction structures increased
dramatically.**Another example with tomatoes where the dry biomass
of Char+Fert was elevated 2-4 times above Fert alone..*But fruiting
was increased by an order of magnitudeOther qualitative results
were greater health and resistance to pests, such as spider mites
on these eggplants.**Qualitative results. Greenhouse fern
colonizing pots between trials.
