One hundred and fifty years later

eurochareurochar

Franco MigliettaIrene CriscuoliFilippo FavilliCostanza CalzolariGiorgio AlbertiCristina MartinezSilvia Baronti

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eurochareurochar1° Medite

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Long‐term effects of biochar application

Long‐term effects on:

‐ Carbon sequestration‐ Soil fertility

Why?

eurochareurochar

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Where?

‐ Archaeological settings (Terra Preta, Terramare…)

‐ Charcoal hearths (charcoal platforms, charcoal pits…)

Long‐term effects of biochar application

eurochareurochar

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The hearths of the Val di Pejo, Trentino, Italy

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Historical documentation

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1° Mediterra

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1° Mediterra

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S

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1° Mediterra

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Mean surface area= 94m2

C‐content= 23.3% ± 6.3

N‐content= 0.5% ± 0.2

Layer= 19.3cm ± 6.9

Total C 2.3 t  ± 1.8

C‐content= 6.4% tC ± 1.5

N‐content = 0.4% ± 0.1

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Dendroanthracology

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Dendrochronological dating of charcoal kilns: a new method for datinghistorical land use at the upper timberline Backmeroff, di Pasquale, 2001

1859

1530

330 years

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Centennial time‐scale C‐sequestration1° Medite

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Soil + Charcoal mixture

Charcoal fragments

Inorganic C Organic C

Pyrogenic Non‐pyrogenic

Soil organicmatterWell mixed

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C‐conten

t

Control soil

Hearth’s soil

Charcoal fragments

Stable C isotopic ratio

CO2

CO2

6%

23%

60%

‐26.5‰‐24.7‰‐24.5‰1° Medite

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CO2

CO2

Hearths’ soils

Control soils

Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CRDS)

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Hearth soil = 7337.6x -26.52R2 = 0.9451

Control soil = 7568.3x -26.542R2 = 0.9677

-21

-19

-17

-15

-13

-11

-9

-7

-50.0008 0.0013 0.0018 0.0023 0.0028

1/[C]

13C

Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CRDS)Keeling plot (13C of the CO2 efflux)

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C‐conten

t

Control soil

Hearth’s soil

Charcoal fragments

Stable C isotopic ratio

CO2

CO2

6%

23%

60%

‐26.5‰‐24.7‰‐24.5‰

Mass balance

CCHAR =  CTOT (13CSOIL ‐ 13CSOM) / (13CCHAR ‐ 13CSOM)

87‐89% of C of pyrogenic origin

‐26.5‰

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y = -11.724x - 24.256R2 = 0.9826

-28

-27

-26

-25

-24

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.31/C

13C

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2.0 t C hrt‐1

193 m3 ha‐1 = 174 t ha‐1Win = Win /(nr. hearts ha‐1)

Char = Cin/() 161 t Char hrt‐1

W = Char /  645 t W hrt‐1

212 t C ha‐1 

Singh et al. 2012: 30‐40% C‐loss in 155 years 280‐340 m3 ha‐1

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Soil fertility after 155 years1° Mediterra

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P+K+

Ca

Cu Fe

K

Mg Mn

P

ZN

Ca+

-50.00

0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

250.00

300.00

%

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0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50

Hearths soils

Control soils

Total plant dry mass (g)

Strawberry experiment(greenhouse, 15 days, well watered)

+107%

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1° Mediterra

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CONCLUSIONS

After 155 years since incorporation of biochar:

I. C‐sequestration is substantial

II. The amount of Carbon degraded/leached is likely less thanpredicted by current models

III. No traumatic responses of the vegetation

IV. Increased soil fertility

CAUTION: the results applies for one type of biochar, applied to a mountain grasslandsoil at 2000m elevation. Be careful with excessive generalization…

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CONCLUSIONS

A unique resource for other investigations

• We are ready to offer collaborative access to data, records, samples for any novel investigation in Val di Pejo...

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Acknowledgments

• 1st Mediterranean Biochar Symposium’s organizers

• VII°FP ‐ EuroChar Project

• FIRST – E.Mach Foundation Doctoral Programme

• Universitè Pierre Marie Curie, Paris

• FoxLab – Forest & Wood Science Initiative (CNR/FEM)

Thanks for your attention!!!1° Mediterra

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