Plant biomass waste recycling through application of biochar from hydrothermal carbonization (HTC-biochar) on agricultural land as soil amendment and for carbon sequestration

Collaborative Project

Coordinating institution: Institute of Sugar Beet Research

In Germany, considerable amounts of plant biomass waste are composted today. In this process, carbon losses are significant resulting in a substantial release of greenhouse gases. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of plant biomass and utilization of HTC-biochar on agricultural land may offer the potential to decrease greenhouse gas emission thereby mitigating climate change. Moreover, addition of HTC-biochar may compensate for the growing humus-C deficit on arable land, which is caused by the increasing removal of cereals straw and other crop residues for bioenergy purposes. Taking into account a high recalcitrance of HTC-biochar against microbial breakdown, its application may contribute to C-sequestration. But, the effects of HTC-biochar on soil biological, chemical and physical properties and, moreover, its decomposition characteristics in the soil have not yet been investigated. Compared with biochar derived from pyrolyis, HTC-biochar offers some substantial advantages: (1) it assumedly has a lower content of pollutants, (2) the production process has a more favourable energy balance and (3) lower C losses, and (4) input materials with a high water content are applicable. Therefore, the aim of this project is a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of the agronomic-ecological properties of HTC-biochar as a prerequisite for its application on agricultural land. To achieve this target, three groups with expertise in soil chemistry, biology and physics closely collaborate in laboratory, pot and field experiments. Additionally, two expert groups work on technical aspects of HTC-biochar production.

show more show less

Collaborative Projects