Use of carbonized organic material for production of greenhouse crops

Nick Savidov

Crop Diversification Centre South, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

For Canadian Biochar Initiative

Friday, December 12, 2008

Montreal, Quebec

Introduction Objectives of Biochar study at

CDCS, Brooks Results of preliminary studies Long English cucumber production

on Biochar-based media Use of Biochar as a transplant

media for basil production Conclusions

TOPICS

Substrates have a major impact on growth of greenhouse and nursery plants and often determine profitability of the operations

Substrates are divided into three groups:

mineral organic synthetic

Examples of mineral substrates:

rockwoolpumice stoneperliteexpanded clay

Most common examples of organic substrates:

peatcoconut coirsawdustrice huskbark

Most common synthetic substrate:

Polyurethane foam

Biochar is an example of a new kind of greenhouse substrate

Existing greenhouse substrates widely differ in their properties

Properties of greenhouse substrates

PhysicalChemical Physico-chemicalBiological

Physical properties of greenhouse substrates

Water retention capacity Total porosity Air space Stability Bulk density Saturation and de-saturation

characteristics Particle size distribution

Chemical properties of greenhouse substrates

Water soluble elements Buffered elements Nitrogen fixation

Physico-chemical properties of greenhouse substrates

Ion Exchange Capacity

Biological properties of greenhouse substrates

Plant reactionMicroorganisms reaction

Pest reaction

Physical properties of some greenhouse

substratesSubstrate Air content, % volume

Available water, %

Peat 28 18

Rockwool 25 71

Polyurethane foam

84 6

 

Why Biochar?

Advantages of greenhouse media based on carbonized organic material

Higher stability Less bulk density Better physical characteristics, such as

porosity and water retention capacity

Ability to absorb phytotoxic compounds such as phenols.

Buffering capacity Potential algicidal properties Not easily available for bacteria as a carbon

source, which decreases potential nitrogen fixation

Can be produced from cheap, locally available sources, agricultural waste, such as straw

Advantages of greenhouse media based on carbonized organic material

Key objectives of Biochar study at CDCS, Brooks

basil, long English cucumbers, tomatoes bell peppers

Evaluate the performance of Biochar produced from various materials as a hydroponic growth media for greenhouse crops including:

Key objectives of Biochar study at CDCS, Brooks

Measure the physical, chemical, and biological properties of carbonized growth media as a hydroponic growth media and compare these properties to those of commercial alternatives including sawdust and coconut coir

Key objectives of Biochar study at CDCS, Brooks

Characterize the “stability” (number of successive crops capable of being grown on the same media) of Biochar-based media as compared to commercial growth media.

Key objectives of Biochar study at CDCS, Brooks

Conduct a ‘techno-economic’ and an ‘environmental’ assessment of carbonized growth media in the greenhouse industry in Alberta.

Conduct a food safety study on greenhouse produce grown on media produced from carbonized organic material

-200.0

0.0

200.0

400.0

600.0

800.0

1000.0

Carbonized.Sawdust

RawSawdust

Spent Saw CarbonizedStraw

Raw Straw CarbonizedCoir

Spent Coir

mgO2/kg VS/hr

mgCO2/kg VS/hr

Effect of substrate on respiration rate after 4 days of incubation

Preliminary experiments with long English cucumbers

Absence of phytotoxic effect of carbonized media

Carbonized sawdust

Raw sawdust

Effect of carbonized medium on algae growth

Carbonized sawdust

Raw sawdust

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Sawdust Coir CS 1 CS 2 CS 3 CS 4 CS 5 CS 6 CS 7 CS 8 CS 9

Effect of carbonized substrate on cucumber yield in comparison with sawdust and coir

2nd experiment with long English cucumbers

Randomized block design of cucumber trial

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Row 1 1 9 6 3 2 5 8 4 7 10

Row 2 8 2 4 10 7 9 3 6 5 1

Row 3 5 7 9 1 3 2 6 8 4 10

Row 4 3 10 4 8 5 1 6 7 2 9

Row 5 1 6 2 7 9 8 3 5 4 10

Row 6 4 5 9 3 6 2 7 10 1 8

Row 7 8 2 7 1 5 4 3 9 6 10

Row 8 4 9 5 3 6 10 8 1 2 7

Row 9 10 1 8 7 2 9 4 5 3 6

SAWDUST standard irrigation

SAWDUST less frequent irrigation

COIR standard irrigation

COIR less frequent irrigation

Carbonized SAWDUST standard irrigation

Carbonized SAWDUST less frequent irrigation

Carbonized COIR standard irrigation

Carbonized COIR less frequent irrigation

Carbonized straw standard irrigation

Carbonized straw less frequent irrigation

# Treatment KG. SE WORTH SE

1 sawdust standard irrigation 9.95 0.66 14.4 1.1

2 sawdust less frequent irrigation 8.16 0.77 11.8 0.9

3 coconut coir standard irrigation 9.95 0.59 14.4 0.8

4 coconut coir less frequent irrigation 10.66 1.01 15.3 1.4

5 carbonized sawdust standard irrigation 9.62 0.74 13.8 1.0

6 carbonized sawdust less frequent irrigation 9.11 0.83 13.1 1.1

7 carbonized coconut coir standard irrigation 8.64 0.31 12.4 0.5

8 carbonized coconut coir less frequent irrigation 10.67 0.81 15.1 1.0

9 carbonized straw standard irrigation 10.84 1.08 15.6 1.5

10 carbonized straw less frequent irrigation 10.82 0.97 15.2 1.4

Effect of carbonized substrates on productivity of greenhouse cucumbers

Effect of carbonized substrates on yield of greenhouse cucumbers, kg/plant

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

sawdust coconut coir carbonizedsawdust

carbonizedcoconut

carbonizedstraw

standard

less frequent

Effect of carbonized substrates on yield of greenhouse cucumbers, $/plant

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

sawdust coconut coir carbonizedsawdust

carbonizedcoconut

carbonizedstraw

standard

less frequent

Effect of carbonized transplant media on basil production in aquaponics

system

Aquaponics facility at CDCS, Brooks

GeoTube Sump

Filtertanks

Clarifier

Swirl Separators

P1

2nd generation aquaponics facility with Biofloc system

Fish tanks Plant Tray

AB1

AB2

Filters

Clean waterAeration

Cleaning Circuit

Solids RemovalNutrient Rich Water

P2P3

Effect of carbonized media on basil productivity in aquaponics

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Coir - control Carbonizedstraw

Carbonized coir Carbonizedsawdust

Kg/sheet

Kg/sheet

Conclusions

Preliminary data suggest no phytotoxic effect of carbonization on greenhouse crops

The same or higher yields can be achieved using biochar-based media in greenhouse crops production

Carbonization dramatically improve stability of organic substrate

Biochar-based media have a high potential when used in highly biologically active environment, such as aquaponics