Biochar program offering farmers cash to boost soil health
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Biochar program offering farmers cash to boost soil health
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program uses byproducts from the lumber industry. The waste or byproducts are then burned at a high temperatures through a process called pyrolysis to make a charcoal that can then be spread across their field. A study found that organic matter saw an increase of 0.4% to 0.7% in plots where 20 tons per acre of biochar was added. Farmers who enroll in the program will receive $200 per acre for up to 300 acres to apply the biochar to their fields. The program is available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, but Simmons said he has an agreement in place that will allow him to directly enroll farmers as well.”It is newer and not many know about it,” Simmons said. “I’ve heard a lot of good things from the farmers that have signed up and used it” Though he hasn’t received full numbers as harvest hasn’t taken place yet, research indicated yields. have increased up to 10% to 15% in some areas.
For farmers growing crops, the right nutrients are needed to ensure proper soil health.
Greg Simmons of Rohrer Seed Solutions in Waverly said one way that he is encouraging farmers to increase their soil health is by using biochar on their fields.
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“It adds carbon to the soil, which in turn increases organic matter in the soil, which in turn increases the cation exchange capacity,” Simmons said. “this means there are more bonding sites, which means the soil holds more nutrients.”
With the growing cost of inputs for farmers, Simmons said there needs to be more focus on increasing the health of the soil to help improve the retention of nutrients.
Simmons said there are several versions of biochar, some using waste from livestock manure, municipal waste treatment plants or other organic materials.
The program uses byproducts from the lumber industry, including saw dust, bark or other byproducts.
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The waste or byproducts are then burned at a high temperatures through a process called pyrolysis to make a charcoal that can then be spread across their field.
Once applied, Simmons said it works within the field to help create more bonding sites that hold the nutrients within the soil, as well as improve water retention, which will also help lower runoff.
“It gives the biology more room to grow,” Simmons said. “This is something that we have been trying to accomplish with cover crops.”
Having healthy soil also allows for better water retention and helps decrease erosion.
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“It allows water to flow deeper in compaction areas, or if there is clay soil,” Simmons said. He said that can help during periods where there is less water, as well as with keeping the nutrients bonded to the soil instead of leeching with excess water.
Aaron Dufelmeier, director of the University of Illinois Extension Office that serves Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan and Scott counties, said the extension did a study on the use of biochar several years ago and saw an increase in the yields where the biochar was used.
“The yield averages were higher in the applied plots than where no biochar was added,” Dufelmeier said.
The study found that organic matter saw an increase of 0.4% to 0.7% in plots where 20 tons per acre of biochar was added, while plots with 20 tons of biochar saw increases of 0.3% to 0.4% of organic matter.
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Dufelmeier said the history of biochar came from South America where farmers were using it to make non-productive land into productive land in order to increase the land available for farming.
“It is ideal for lower productive soils,” Dufelmeier said. “It lasts longer and doesn’t degrade as quickly. Some of those fields in South America are still producing and supporting crops when they were once unproductive.”
While the process of using biochar has been around for a few years, Simmons said many farmers don’t know about the Environmental Quality Incentives Program available to them.
The program is available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, but Simmons said he has an agreement in place that will allow him to directly enroll farmers as well.
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Farmers who enroll in the program will receive $200 per acre for up to 300 acres to apply the biochar to their fields.
“It is newer and not many know about it,” Simmons said. “Our goal is to work with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to get as much money and resources into the farmer’s hands as we can. It’s beneficial to the soil, beneficial to the grower and it’s a revenue stream.”
Simmons said he has heard a lot of good things from the farmers that have signed up and used it. Though he hasn’t received full numbers as harvest hasn’t taken place yet, research prior indicated farmers would see increased yields.
“I’ve had a couple that have reached out after the first application and said they can tell a difference, but the combines haven’t rolled it yet,” Simmons said.
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For him, he said he hopes farmers will take a step back and look as some of the more traditional aspects of farming. While they are able to add nutrients when needed, he said part of the process is making sure those nutrients stay and potentially getting some of those nutrients naturally.
“The biggest hurdle is getting the farmers to think about it,” Simmons said.
Dufelmeier said the practice of using biochar isn’t unheard of, but he said it is a lesser-used practice for the area, partially because there is a lot of productive soil in the region.
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He said adding biochar to soils that are more dense and therefore hold less nutrients really benefit from the addition.
Source: https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/biochar-soil-health-incentive-21030481.php