Biochar field testing in the UK: outcomes and implications for use Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Background: 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. 2013 Future Science Ltd.

published proceedings

  • CARBON MANAGEMENT

altmetric score

  • 1

author list (cited authors)

  • Hammond, J., Shackley, S., Prendergast-Miller, M., Cook, J., Buckingham, S., & Pappa, V. A.

citation count

  • 31

complete list of authors

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

publication date

  • April 2013