1. Gordon Hirst
Warm Heart
Manager Environmental Program
Biochar

2. * What is it ?
* What’s it for ?
* How do you make it ?
Biochar

4. Terra Preta Amazonian rain forest between circa 450 BC and 950 AD
Biochar is not new:

5. Typical: biochar under microscope
Properties of Biochar

6. When making (pyrolysis)
• Reduces Smoke (Haze)
• Greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction: pyrolysis Vs. field burning (approx 60% reduction)
When Using
• Soil enhancement
• Adsorption of nutrients, beneficial micro organisms and water
• Increase yields
• Pesticide and toxic adsorption
• Greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction: carbon sequestration
Sustainable development

7. Reduce haze
Photo taken in Huey Sai: 10:30 AM 9th February 2016

8. So what’s wrong with our soil ?

9. Biochar: excellent soil amendment

11. Benefits of biochar are
• Improve soil structure
• Improve water penetration
• Improve water retention
• Increase pH
• Increase soil life
• Increase organic matter

12. Triple bottom line

13. Biochar:
• Good for environment
• Good for society
• Good for the economy

15. How do you make biochar ?

16. Biochar made by pyrolysis

17. Biochar machines:
Kiln ?
Oven ?
Cook stove ?
Retort ?

19. Reduce haze
FU3 trial @ Warm Heart 28th December 2015

20. TLUD
‘Top Lit Up Draft’

21. Field Unit 2
FU2

22. Field Unit 2.2
FU2.2

23. Field Unit 3
FU3

25. Cavity type: T1

26. Cavity type: T2

27. Cavity type: T2

28. Retort

30. After making Biochar what do we do ?

31. Biochar quality and effectiveness
1. Activate Biochar : organic fertilizer
2. Aging: Nitrogen shock
3. Biochar attributes
• Physical attributes
• Constituent attributes
• Soil relevant attributes

32. GACS result