A Study on the Synthesis of Biochar Composts for the Agricultural Applications
1. Producing functional biochars from different biomass wastes such as water caltrop shells and branches of fruit trees by Using the carbonization system in Guantan. 2. Characterizations on the compositions and physical properties of the resulted biochars to confirm the safety in agricultural applications. 3. Studies on effects of biochar amendment for compost quality, assessment of nutrient conservation and quality improvement of cow manure using derived biochar from water caltrop shells and branches 4. Assessing the benefit of biochars obtained from water chestnut shell or fruit tree wood on proliferation of runners and growth, productivity, and berry quality in strawberries.
Application of lignin to produce multifunctional biochar for soil amendment.
1.Lignin is a rich source of natural resources, but has not been fully utilized, especially technical lignin produced in the pulp and paper industry should be properly used as raw materials for the development of new materials in the future, increasing its added value. Biochar is one of the most popular materials in recent years. It is mainly a kind of carbonaceous products with high specific surface area and rich porous pores, which are prepared by various pyrolysis of biological materials.
2.The main objectives of this study are to develop lignin-based biochar to increase its output value and waste recycling, and then combine with fertilizer with lignin-based biochar as slow-release fertilizer compound, to improve the soil properties, in order to enhance a variety of farming and the benefits of forest growth. It is expected that the utilization of technical lignin will maximize the utilization of resources and reduce the production cost to achieve the value-added development of waste recycling circular economy.
3.the overall objective of the project is to use technical lignin as raw materials for the development of natural, environmental-friendly and low-cost renewable porous biochar as long-term slow-release fertilizer and soil amendment. The project will also assess the impact of the addition of lignin biochar on the growth of seedlings and evaluate the development benefits of technical lignin utilization to enhance agricultural productivity and output value.
4.This year's work is to prepare lignin biochar through high-temperature pyrolysis treatment. By controlling the heating temperature, heating time and heating rate of high-temperature processing, and through observing and analyzing a series of physical and chemical properties, the suitable preparation process parameters of lignin biochar will be determined.
Changes in nutrient speciation during pyrolytic process from different feedstock biochar and its applications in agroecosystems
1. Using biochar as a soil amendment has been proposed as a promising practice for modern agriculture. However, biochar can be made from diverse feedstocks and temperatures. These differences may thus grant divergent properties to biochar. To specific understand its property is important for effective biochar application. 2. We propose to use a modern small/medium scale size pyrolyzer (> 100 kg per burn) to produce biochar from a range of feedstocks at the pyrolytic temperature at 300 and 500 o C.3. The basic physical, chemical and biological properties of biochar will be analyzed. In addition, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and synchrotron-based spectroscopy will be applied in order to identify the change in nutrient speciation (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) under pyrolytic process. Incubation and pot and field experiments will be conducted as well in order to understand the leaching dynamics of nutrients.4. We expect the results can improve our knowledge of using biochar in a proper way and have a positive impact for biohar applications in agroecosystems.
Evaluation of biochar application methods on agricultural slopelands and establishment of operation display farm
1.It’s important for evaluation on producing techniques of biochar and its application strategy on rural soils; this study aims to establish standard operation procedure (SOP) for biochar application on slopeland rural soils. 2.This study will try to conduct 2 methods of biochar application and evaluate the effects of different application ways on soil physiochemical properties. 3.In this study, we will establish 2 demo sites at least of biochar application, including fruit farm in NPUST and in FTHEB. 4.There will be 5 learning workshops held during the project duration.