Biochar field testing in the UK: outcomes and implications for use

Jim Hammond; Simon Shackley; Miranda Prendergast-Miller; Jason Cook; Sarah Buckingham; Valentini  Pappa

doi:10.4155/cmt.13.3

Biochar field testing in the UK: outcomes and implications for use

Jim Hammond, Simon Shackley, Miranda Prendergast-Miller, Jason Cook, Sarah Buckingham, Valentini Pappa

School of Geosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

There is a lack of biochar field trials in temperate climate regions. Wood biochar was applied during 2009–2011 to seven field experiments on five working farms in the UK, for arable, legume, horticultural and root crops. Results: Three trials showed no significant (p > 0.05) effect on crop yield, two showed positive effects of 5–6%, one showed a very strong increase of 100% and one showed a decrease of 2–16%. A meta-analysis of effect sizes was conducted for all treatments (n = 47), which showed a significant (p < 0.05) positive effect, increasing average yield by 0.4 t ha-1. Biochar application rates of 20 t ha-1 or under led to the greater benefits. Conclusion: This paper shows that, in some situations, biochar can bring benefits in modern temperate farming.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	159 - 170
Number of pages	12
Journal	Carbon Management
Volume	4
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4155/cmt.13.3
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2013

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

biochar
field trials
UK

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10.4155/cmt.13.3

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title = "Biochar field testing in the UK: outcomes and implications for use",

abstract = "There is a lack of biochar field trials in temperate climate regions. Wood biochar was applied during 2009–2011 to seven field experiments on five working farms in the UK, for arable, legume, horticultural and root crops. Results: Three trials showed no significant (p > 0.05) effect on crop yield, two showed positive effects of 5–6%, one showed a very strong increase of 100% and one showed a decrease of 2–16%. A meta-analysis of effect sizes was conducted for all treatments (n = 47), which showed a significant (p < 0.05) positive effect, increasing average yield by 0.4 t ha-1. Biochar application rates of 20 t ha-1 or under led to the greater benefits. Conclusion: This paper shows that, in some situations, biochar can bring benefits in modern temperate farming.",

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AU - Hammond, Jim

AU - Shackley, Simon

AU - Prendergast-Miller, Miranda

AU - Cook, Jason

AU - Buckingham, Sarah

AU - Pappa, Valentini

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AB - There is a lack of biochar field trials in temperate climate regions. Wood biochar was applied during 2009–2011 to seven field experiments on five working farms in the UK, for arable, legume, horticultural and root crops. Results: Three trials showed no significant (p > 0.05) effect on crop yield, two showed positive effects of 5–6%, one showed a very strong increase of 100% and one showed a decrease of 2–16%. A meta-analysis of effect sizes was conducted for all treatments (n = 47), which showed a significant (p < 0.05) positive effect, increasing average yield by 0.4 t ha-1. Biochar application rates of 20 t ha-1 or under led to the greater benefits. Conclusion: This paper shows that, in some situations, biochar can bring benefits in modern temperate farming.

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Biochar field testing in the UK: outcomes and implications for use

Abstract

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

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