Biochar production from agricultual waste for carbon sequestration
In recent years the use of biochar has yielded promising results in the reduction of CO2.
Biochar is a carbon rich charcoal that is formed by the thermal decomposition of biomass.
Due its chemical and physical stability biochar, besides being a soil amender, is a viable option for underground storage of the carbon that will remain in soil for centuries. This project specifically focuses on the production and characterization and use of biochar samples from residues of agricultural activities as an innovative tool for combating global climate change
- Financial cooperation.
- Studies required to the implementation of the plan (market, feasibility, business plans, etc.).
- Collection (mowing and rotoimballatura) and transport of biomass plant.
- Setup load / carbonizer.
- Agronomic tests.
- Laboratory analysis.
- Presentation annual reports.
- Drafting of the guidelines.
- Data collection.
- Plan disclosure of transfer of results and implementation of PEI Network.
- Training activity.
To minimize or mitigate climate change is requiredthe management of the carbon cycle and of CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. The carbon cycle includes a first phase of subtraction of CO2 by photosynthesis that accumulates in the organic biomass (leaves, stems, flowers ...), converting the CO2 into organic carbon. A second phase in which the organic biomass is consumed: directly from plants in cellular respiration, by animals in the food chain, degraded by soil microorganisms; with the return of CO2 into the atmosphere.
The high stability of biochar allows this product to be an interesting technology not only "Carbon neutral" but even "Carbon Negative" as sequesters more carbon than it is input during its production (Liu et al., 2014) .
The addition of biochar into the soil matrix lets you store carbon and thus mitigate the effects of climate-altering gases emitted continuously in high amounts in the atmosphere (Rhodes et al., 2012) by providing a sustainable approach for the mitigation of climate change through organic carbon storage in very stable form. (Dominic Woolf in 2009, Johannes Lehmann 2007)
The application of this product to the ground also has direct influences on the reduction of natural emissions of CH4 and N2Oin as change certain parameters of the matrix and consequently the metabolic activity of special microbial communities responsible for the production of these compounds (Rizhiya et al., 2015, Zhang et al., 2015).
A1 EXERCISE OF COOPERATION - A monitoring action to ensure compliance with the aspects defined in the Agreement
A2 - STUDIES NEEDED FOR THE MARKET PLAN, EFFECTIVENESS, ETC):
The methodology used to measure the economic effects of the project for the realization of a pyrolysis plant is the Cost-Benefit Analysis (ACB).
Action 3. Collection, storage of organic biomass and subsequent carbonization. (FARMS and STUARD)
Collection of organic waste produced at the Farms involved in Piacenza and Parma, in areas D, for their carbonization. This action will be carried out in 2016 and will be repeated in 2017.
Harvested material will be delivered to the ASVT for later carbonization.
Action 4. Adjustment of the micro carbonization feed according to the type of bioamass carbonisation. (ASVT)
At the ASVT will be placed an innovative micro carboniser, granted in a Free-to-use agreement, to which will be added a specific feeding system for crop residues from farms.
Six months are planned for the feeding system, during which it will be produced the biochar which will be used for autumn autochthonous tests at farms.
The samples of biochar products will be analyzed at the specialized workshops partners of the project.
Biochar's production activity will begin on 1/8 2016 and will be carried out throughout the project life so that it can evaluate the different types of biochar obtained from different biomasses.
Action 5. Agronomic tests. (STUARD, ASVT, FARMS)
They will be run from autumn 2016
At the Farm in areas D in Parma and at ASVT, parcels trials will be organized in a randomized block diagram with 4 replicas to compare two doses of biochar (15 and 30 t ha-1) activated with slurry and digestate.
The experimental scheme, at the Piacentina and Parma fruit-growing company, provides for experiments on the rows of vines in which the replicas are represented by the plants, and comparison of the doses of biochar and different activation is distributed on the interfaces that will be subsequently buried.
A6 - Laboratory analysis
To be performed before sowing, and after harvesting.
UNIPR
Within the framework of the project, the role of UNIPR is to evaluate the efficacy of the biochar which is either functionalized with selected microorganisms as soil modifier to stimulate the growth of active microbial biomass and consequently to improve the filtration efficiency of the buffer bands. In the first phase, in collaboration with the main parameters useful for the chemical-physical characterization of the biochar, in order to evaluate its morphology and chemical composition. This information is important for determining the most advantageous and least beneficial aspects of biochar use in the agricultural and environmental field. First, there is no single type of biochar, but different types depending on the starting material and preparation conditions. Subsequently, UNIPR will evaluate the effects on plant life of different types of biochar, relative to growth parameters and metabolic function, using different types of plants of agronomic and environmental interest, and different types of soil. At the same time, the microbial community of rhizosphere will be analyzed and how it is influenced by the administration of biochar. Finally, the possible effects on living organisms related to possible toxicity and / or genotoxicity will be evaluated, using also mutagenesis tests and other biochemical and molecular analyzes to determine toxicity and carcinogenicity in vitro. From this stage could emerge the possible risk factors to be considered in each application.
UNIBO
Analysis of biochar characteristics
Action A7. Draft annual reports, detailing the technical-managerial details of each business test and the results obtained (year-to-year).
A report will be produced for each company, which will annually record all the results obtained (productions, technical-management data, costs, agronomic data ...) and which will be the basis of any improvements to be introduced for the following year.
Action A8. Drawing Guidelines for applying and disseminating practices and / or combining tested practices.
At the end of the planning period, a technical and agronomic account will be produced of the activity carried out in each company, showing the successes and possible failures of the tested techniques in the different types of terrain. The goal is to provide a list of good pratcices that can make the contextualization of the practices easier, even and above all, depending on the company's characteristics
A9 - Data collection
Data Collection Actions: Sampling and analysis of carbon and biocar content in soils will be carried out at the beginning, mid and end of the three-year trial in accordance with the official soil analysis methods (DM No.79 Of 11/05/1992 and DM No.185 of 13/09/1999), which allow uniformization of analytical methods and obtaining objectively interpretable values. In particular, soil biochemical analysis will follow the guidelines formulated by the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) for standardization of the Biochar for Soil (Standardized Product Definition and Product TestingGuidelines for BiocharThatIsUsed in Soil - April 2012) and BiocharQuality Mandates and the European Biochar Certificate (UNIPR).
A10 - DIAGNOSTIC TRANSLATION OF RESULTS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PEI NETWORK
The dissemination of innovation to agricultural enterprises is an activity that the Operational Group intends to take particular care in the context of this Plan, given the importance of this phase in the Community addressing objectives. Therefore, the dissemination activity in addition to the implementation of the PEI network will include a series of dissemination actions capable of contributing to the transfer and application required in the PSR, particularly within Measure 16.1.
Technical Articles, such as:
- Guided tours
- Technical Meeting
- Experimental Business Portal
- Audiovisual
- Connecting to the PEI Network
A11 - AGRIFORM TRAINING ACTIVITIES as proposed in the Green Catalog
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Sito web del progetto
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sito Web dell'azienda Stuard
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sito web del DIPARTIMENTO DI CHIMICA, SCIENZE DELLA VITA E SOSTENIBILITÀ AMBIENTALE dell'Università di Parma
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sito web del gruppo di ricerca dell'Università di Bologna
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Video descrittivo ufficiale del progetto
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Video della Conferenza a Bologna 1-2 marzo 2019
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video Conferenza a Bologna 1-2 marzo 2019
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Conferenza finale il 24 aprile - video
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Inaugurazione del prototipo all'Università di Parma
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Articolo su News Age Agro
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Articolo su Agro Notizie
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Articolo su Repubblica di Parma
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RICACCI: Recupero Innovativo Carbonizzazione e Attivazione di Certificazione “energetico-forestale” Coordinata e Inclusiva
le azioni utilizzate per la realizzazione del progetto sono state le seguenti:
Analisi dell’ambiente di lavoro in cui si deve operare. In quest’azione il Consorzio…