Simple Biochar Production method in the fields from crop residue
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Dr. Reddy
Jun 13, 2011, 8:58:47 AM6/13/11
to biocha...@googlegroups.com, bio...@yahoogroups.com
Dear All,
Recently I was working with a small farmer for production of biochar from crop residue. This is the simplest and convenient method for farmers to convert the crop residue / biomass in the farm lands into Biochar. 'Biochar Trenches' / 'Staggered Biochar trenches' of 2 to 3 feet depth and 1.5 to 2 feet width could be made using simple tools in a agriculture fields. (deeper trenches can also be made) It is more convenient to make such trenches after ploughing the field. Trenches perpendicular to the slopes also benefit the steep sloppy areas as water harvesting means. All the crop residue otherwise burnt openly can be collected and dumped into these trenches lengthwise. More biomass can be added by pushing it with a stick. Once the trench is filled with biomass and compact, should be covered by grass / weeds / broad leaves / etc. After covering it up, soil should be spread on the trench, a lengthy mound is created. Some water could be used to make the soil compact and for sealing the mound of biomass. A small hole is left open for lighting the biomass at one end and at the other end a very small opening is left open. Once it is lit, white smoke starts emitting at the other end. Small holes to be made in a biochar lenghty trench at every 10 to 15 feet in a biochar trench and light it. Or one could create staggered trenches of 10 to 15 feet in length instead of lengthy single trenches. After 24 hours the biomass is converted into biochar, also one could see that the mound height also reduces. Any little smoke or embers should be quenched with water or covered with soil while removing the biochar from the trench.
For more details see http://biocharplus.blogspot.com/ | http://biochar.bioenergylists.org/content/biochar-trench-mounds
In the forest and hilly areas, the staggered trenches or continuous contour trenches prepared for management of soil and water harvesting, could be used for management of litter on the forest floors by converting into the biochar as well preventing forest fires.
The major benefits of this method is:
Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy
Recently I was working with a small farmer for production of biochar from crop residue. This is the simplest and convenient method for farmers to convert the crop residue / biomass in the farm lands into Biochar. 'Biochar Trenches' / 'Staggered Biochar trenches' of 2 to 3 feet depth and 1.5 to 2 feet width could be made using simple tools in a agriculture fields. (deeper trenches can also be made) It is more convenient to make such trenches after ploughing the field. Trenches perpendicular to the slopes also benefit the steep sloppy areas as water harvesting means. All the crop residue otherwise burnt openly can be collected and dumped into these trenches lengthwise. More biomass can be added by pushing it with a stick. Once the trench is filled with biomass and compact, should be covered by grass / weeds / broad leaves / etc. After covering it up, soil should be spread on the trench, a lengthy mound is created. Some water could be used to make the soil compact and for sealing the mound of biomass. A small hole is left open for lighting the biomass at one end and at the other end a very small opening is left open. Once it is lit, white smoke starts emitting at the other end. Small holes to be made in a biochar lenghty trench at every 10 to 15 feet in a biochar trench and light it. Or one could create staggered trenches of 10 to 15 feet in length instead of lengthy single trenches. After 24 hours the biomass is converted into biochar, also one could see that the mound height also reduces. Any little smoke or embers should be quenched with water or covered with soil while removing the biochar from the trench.
For more details see http://biocharplus.blogspot.com/ | http://biochar.bioenergylists.org/content/biochar-trench-mounds
In the forest and hilly areas, the staggered trenches or continuous contour trenches prepared for management of soil and water harvesting, could be used for management of litter on the forest floors by converting into the biochar as well preventing forest fires.
The major benefits of this method is:
- Convenient for farmers otherwise just burning biomass openly and also causing pollution.
- In open burning mostly the biomass converts in ash and little charcoal is formed.
- In the process soil also get burnt, the burnt soil is good for soil like the pottery shards.
- All the biochar, burnt soil remains within the soil / field, which could be conveniently spread by the farmer within the whole field.
- The farmer need not transport the biomass to any other place for conversion into biochar.
- Farmer need to invest on technologies and have licences for converting biomass into biochar.
- Most convenient for small and marginal farmers.
Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy
Dr. SAI BHASKAR REDDY NAKKA
Jun 13, 2011, 12:17:45 PM6/13/11
to bio...@yahoogroups.com, biocha...@googlegroups.com
Dear Kevin,
Thank you. Similar very old practices we have discussed in the groups earlier. Here I have tried to recreate it with our farmers. Such practices might have been beneficial, we need to understand why such practices are rare to find.
"RAAB", Maharashtra, India
Mr. Bernard Declercq, Auroville had seen this system about 30 years back, in parts peninsular India, explains it as "Raab is a system of charring biomass used by some tribal communities in India. It consists of making beds of various layers of dry, half-dry and fresh woody and leafy biomass, dung and clay. The thus layered bed
is fully sealed with clay and cold fired (burning in reduced conditions). In the resultant residues rice nurseries are started. The tribals affirm that this gives perfect growth to the rice plants. Charcoal bits, ash, even wood vinegar as well as sulfur that may have been absorbed by the clay, would explain the growth enhancing factors of the raab system".
https://groups.google.com/d/topic/biocharindia/6Krcl-ugILA/discussion
"BATIBO", SouthWest Cameroon
As explained by Laurens Rademakers
"The Batibo technique was described to us as to work as follows: before the planting season, farmers collect big piles of elephant grass or any other type of savannah grass, which they spread out over their fields to dry it. After the grass has dried, they pile it so as to make long strips, on which they will grow their crops. Then they cover
the big rows of grass with a layer of mud, which they leave to dry again. After the mud has dried and hardened, they open one part of the strip and set fire to the grass contained in this "container". The fire travels slowly through this "kiln", providing a low oxygen environment, and chars all the biomass. After this operation, they
crush the mud layer, and the char beneath it. They repeat the effort several times to create layers of char and crushed mud. This then becomes their soil bed, on which they start planting crops when they rains arrive. The rains turn this soil layer into an apparently fertile soil. To our own amazement, the farmers of our workshop in
Kendem immediately understood the biochar concept, because of their knowledge of this Batibo technique."
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/message/4978
--
Mobile No. (+91) 9246352018 or 9505760669
1: Do you feel that the gaseous pyrolysis products would be neutral beneficial, or detrimental to the soil?
Thank you. Similar very old practices we have discussed in the groups earlier. Here I have tried to recreate it with our farmers. Such practices might have been beneficial, we need to understand why such practices are rare to find.
"RAAB", Maharashtra, India
Mr. Bernard Declercq, Auroville had seen this system about 30 years back, in parts peninsular India, explains it as "Raab is a system of charring biomass used by some tribal communities in India. It consists of making beds of various layers of dry, half-dry and fresh woody and leafy biomass, dung and clay. The thus layered bed
is fully sealed with clay and cold fired (burning in reduced conditions). In the resultant residues rice nurseries are started. The tribals affirm that this gives perfect growth to the rice plants. Charcoal bits, ash, even wood vinegar as well as sulfur that may have been absorbed by the clay, would explain the growth enhancing factors of the raab system".
https://groups.google.com/d/topic/biocharindia/6Krcl-ugILA/discussion
"BATIBO", SouthWest Cameroon
As explained by Laurens Rademakers
"The Batibo technique was described to us as to work as follows: before the planting season, farmers collect big piles of elephant grass or any other type of savannah grass, which they spread out over their fields to dry it. After the grass has dried, they pile it so as to make long strips, on which they will grow their crops. Then they cover
the big rows of grass with a layer of mud, which they leave to dry again. After the mud has dried and hardened, they open one part of the strip and set fire to the grass contained in this "container". The fire travels slowly through this "kiln", providing a low oxygen environment, and chars all the biomass. After this operation, they
crush the mud layer, and the char beneath it. They repeat the effort several times to create layers of char and crushed mud. This then becomes their soil bed, on which they start planting crops when they rains arrive. The rains turn this soil layer into an apparently fertile soil. To our own amazement, the farmers of our workshop in
Kendem immediately understood the biochar concept, because of their knowledge of this Batibo technique."
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/message/4978
2: I have difficulty understanding how, on a level field, you could ignite the biomass at one end of a trench, and have the smoke appear at the other. Certainly, this could happen if the trench was "up the slope" on a hillside, but on level ground, OR, if the trenches followed the contours on a hillside, there would be no "stack effect" to cause the smoke to migrate to "the far end" away from the fire. Perhaps I missed something in your explanation.
Yes, it is possible, if well sealed with earth. There could be some smoke leakages it not sealed well.
3: If gaseous pyrolysis products (CO, H2, Tars, Acetic Acid, etc) were not positively beneficial to the soil, there is a way you could solve a lot of problems simply: set two 45 gallon drums (with tops and bottoms removed) up over the middle of a trench, and light a fire in it. This should make a great "ELSD" installation... "End Lit, Side Draft". The 2 drums would create a stack effect, that would draw air into the trench from the far ends. The pyrolysis front should progress from the center ignition point out to the ends. You could have a large number of trenches coming to the single center "Ignition and Draft Source."
Yes, great idea, it is possible, we can try it. Usually we find such a stack is used for brick industries, I have seen some in Bangladesh.
4: In the photos you have shown, the soil looks to be virtually devoid of organic matter. This absence of organic matter would have a very detrimental effect on moisture retention capacity for the soil. Charcoal has a very poor moisture retention capacity... perhaps only a maximum of 30% of the initial dry charcoal weight. Composted biomass can retain perhaps about 10 times as much moisture. Would the Farmers be better off if they simply buried their agricultural wastes and allowed them to compost in place? This should also be very beneficial for the "Soil Food Web."
No this is a fertile soil red soil (I have not tested for organic matter), taken the photos in the evening during sun set time. Yes, I always prefer Biochar compost application rather only Biochar application. As we know Biochar and soil carbon both have different roles in soil management. The stumps of cotton and redgram (pulse) are difficult to compost, so farmers prefer to burn them openly rather composting. So this is a better method.
5: Alternatively, would the Farmers be better off if they simply chopped the agricultural waste, and applied it as a mulch?
Yes, farmers are not ready, burning the biomass is easy for them than chopping the agriculture waste to use it as a mulch.
--
Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy
CEO GEO | GOOD STOVES | BIOCHAR INDIA | GEO ResourcesMobile No. (+91) 9246352018 or 9505760669
saibh...@facebook.com | skype id: saibhaskarnakka
kunuthur srinivas
Jun 13, 2011, 12:46:54 PM6/13/11
to biocha...@googlegroups.com
Bio-burning is superior to bio-charring to improve the soil productivity as bio-burning implies slow,silent and steady bioconversion or biotransformation of organic matter from resistant to easily mineralizable organic matter. Soil burning that is caused due to pyrolysis (burning organic matter under restricted oxygen supply) eventually soil biota that infuses life in to the soil gets destroyed. Instead, standard and time tested composting technologies exist for the bioconversion of highly resistant organic materials which ofcourse, take a longer time may be for about four to five months, which does not result in destruction of soil sheltered micro and macro organisms which are farmer friendly and eco-safe.
Kunuthur Srinivasa Reddy
On Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:30:20 +0530 "Dr. Reddy" <saibhas...@gmail.com> wrote
>Dear All,
>
>Recently I was working with a small farmer for production of biochar from crop residue. This is the simplest and convenient method for farmers to convert the crop residue / biomass in the farm lands into Biochar. 'Biochar Trenches' / 'Staggered Biochar trenches' of 2 to 3 feet depth and 1.5 to 2 feet width could be made using simple tools in a agriculture fields. (deeper trenches can also be made) It is more convenient to make such trenches after ploughing the field. Trenches perpendicular to the slopes also benefit the steep sloppy areas as water harvesting means. All the crop residue otherwise burnt openly can be collected and dumped into these trenches lengthwise. More biomass can be added by pushing it with a stick. Once the trench is filled with biomass and compact, should be covered by grass / weeds / broad leaves / etc. After covering it up, soil should be spread on the trench, a lengthy mound is created. Some water could be used to make the soil compact and for sealing the mound of biomass. A small hole is left open for lighting the biomass at one end and at the other end a very small opening is left open. Once it is lit, white smoke starts emitting at the other end. Small holes to be made in a biochar lenghty trench at every 10 to 15 feet in a biochar trench and light it. Or one could create staggered trenches of 10 to 15 feet in length instead of lengthy single trenches. After 24 hours the biomass is converted into biochar, also one could see that the mound height also reduces. Any little smoke or embers should be quenched with water or covered with soil while removing the biochar from the trench.
>
>For more details see http://biocharplus.blogspot.com/ | http://biochar.bioenergylists.org/content/biochar-trench-mounds
>
>In the forest and hilly areas, the staggered trenches or continuous contour trenches prepared for management of soil and water harvesting, could be used for management of litter on the forest floors by converting into the biochar as well preventing forest fires.
>
>The major benefits of this method is:
>
>
>Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy
>
Treat yourself at a restaurant, spa, resort and much more with Rediff Deal ho jaye!
Kunuthur Srinivasa Reddy
On Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:30:20 +0530 "Dr. Reddy" <saibhas...@gmail.com> wrote
>Dear All,
>
>Recently I was working with a small farmer for production of biochar from crop residue. This is the simplest and convenient method for farmers to convert the crop residue / biomass in the farm lands into Biochar. 'Biochar Trenches' / 'Staggered Biochar trenches' of 2 to 3 feet depth and 1.5 to 2 feet width could be made using simple tools in a agriculture fields. (deeper trenches can also be made) It is more convenient to make such trenches after ploughing the field. Trenches perpendicular to the slopes also benefit the steep sloppy areas as water harvesting means. All the crop residue otherwise burnt openly can be collected and dumped into these trenches lengthwise. More biomass can be added by pushing it with a stick. Once the trench is filled with biomass and compact, should be covered by grass / weeds / broad leaves / etc. After covering it up, soil should be spread on the trench, a lengthy mound is created. Some water could be used to make the soil compact and for sealing the mound of biomass. A small hole is left open for lighting the biomass at one end and at the other end a very small opening is left open. Once it is lit, white smoke starts emitting at the other end. Small holes to be made in a biochar lenghty trench at every 10 to 15 feet in a biochar trench and light it. Or one could create staggered trenches of 10 to 15 feet in length instead of lengthy single trenches. After 24 hours the biomass is converted into biochar, also one could see that the mound height also reduces. Any little smoke or embers should be quenched with water or covered with soil while removing the biochar from the trench.
>
>For more details see http://biocharplus.blogspot.com/ | http://biochar.bioenergylists.org/content/biochar-trench-mounds
>
>In the forest and hilly areas, the staggered trenches or continuous contour trenches prepared for management of soil and water harvesting, could be used for management of litter on the forest floors by converting into the biochar as well preventing forest fires.
>
>The major benefits of this method is:
>
- Convenient for farmers otherwise just burning biomass openly and also causing pollution.
- In open burning mostly the biomass converts in ash and little charcoal is formed.
- In the process soil also get burnt, the burnt soil is good for soil like the pottery shards.
- All the biochar, burnt soil remains within the soil / field, which could be conveniently spread by the farmer within the whole field.
- The farmer need not transport the biomass to any other place for conversion into biochar.
- Farmer need to invest on technologies and have licences for converting biomass into biochar.
- Most convenient for small and marginal farmers.
>
>Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy
>
Treat yourself at a restaurant, spa, resort and much more with Rediff Deal ho jaye!
Dr. SAI BHASKAR REDDY NAKKA
Jun 13, 2011, 10:30:56 PM6/13/11
to bio...@yahoogroups.com, biocha...@googlegroups.com
Dear Kevin,
# OK.... I could see teh smoke coming out the end that was lit, but could not see how the smoke would travel through the uncharred biomass without some sort of draft assistance. . If this is how the system operated, then it would perhaps be close to a TLUD. The process would likely be slow, charcoal yield would likely be low, and most of the volatiles would likely be burned.
The pyrolysis process would be between TLUD / Cross draft. The hole which was open in the prevailing wind direction was lit, which created some draft till the other end. Need to see what will happen if lit at the other end prevailing wind direction (the draft could be very low, but biochar formation could be high).
# OK!! There might be major differences in your results, depending on whether you light the "Stack End", or light the "far end". Lighting of the "far end" would tend to produce more tars and acetic acid for absorption by the soil, BUT, the moisture in teh biomass and teh water produced in partial combustion might wet the fuel that it passes through, to the point where the fire went out. If tars and acetic acid production were considered to be a major benefit, then they could perhaps still be attained if the trench length was limited.
Need to observe through experiment. Would like to try this radial stack method.
# OK.... if these materials were difficult to compost, then they would remain a long time in teh soil, and their mositure retention capability would last a relatively long time. Would it be a worthwhile test to chop some of these "difficult to compost" residues, and determine if they contributed significantly to moisture retention capability?
Could be tried in some fields. But here these are small and marginal farmers, they use simple tools and very less machienary. The hard biomass is a hinderace for animals and humans while they move in the field for crop managment. Dry biomass also attracts termites.
5: Alternatively, would the Farmers be better off if they simply chopped the agricultural waste, and applied it as a mulch?Yes, farmers are not ready, burning the biomass is easy for them than chopping the agriculture waste to use it as a mulch.
# If tehy could see an adequate benefit, then they would probably become ready very quickly!! :-)
Yes, True. We need to create awareness on the feasible and adoptable choices.
Jain Rajnish
Oct 10, 2011, 6:18:45 AM10/10/11
to biocha...@googlegroups.com
Avani is participating in a competition in order to promote our project on electricity and charcoal production from pine needles. Since the winners are also chosen based on the number of votes they get, please take a moment to vote for us. If you like, you can also participate in our facebook campaign and involve your friends in this. If you can find avani kumaon on facebook, add it to your friend’s list, it is much simpler to vote.
It’ll need a few minutes of your time to read the project, register, and vote on the link: http://www.sparktherise.com/projectdetail.php?pid=4238 <http://www.sparktherise.com/projectdetail.php?pid=4238>
It’ll make such a huge differenece to our work if you take a few moments to read and vote for our project and ask your network of friennds to do the same.
With warm regards,
Rajnish
Sai Bhaskar Reddy Nakka
Oct 10, 2011, 6:52:13 AM10/10/11
to biocha...@googlegroups.com
Dear Rajnishji,
How are you. It is great to know about the project. I have voted. Hope you should get this project. Is there any progress regarding the good stoves production and facilitation?
Regards,
Sai Bhaskar
--
Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy
Jain Rajnish
Oct 11, 2011, 12:24:51 AM10/11/11
to biocha...@googlegroups.com
Dear Dr. Reddy,
I am very well and hope you are doing greatly. Thank you for your vote. So far, we have not made an progress on stove manufacture, but we are going to take it up once our pine needle project starts. We are specially interested in charcoal stoves.
With regards,
Rajnish
Dear Rajnishji,
How are you. It is great to know about the project. I have voted. Hope you should get this project. Is there any progress regarding the good stoves production and facilitation?
Regards,
Sai Bhaskar
On Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 3:48 PM, Jain Rajnish <yogar...@gmail.com> wrote:
Earthsoul India
Oct 11, 2011, 1:03:05 AM10/11/11
to biocharindia
Dear Rajnish,
Congratulations !! I have forwarded your initiative to the International Biochar Institute, in the U.S. for recognition on an international level as well !!
Good Luck !!
The Society of Biochar Initiatives - India
"Sealand", 4th Flr,
41, Cuffe Parade,
Mumbai 400 005
Tel : +91 (22) 22150374
Fax : +91 (22) 2215 2065
Mobile : +91 98210 50328
Email : bili...@vsnl.com
Website : www.earthsoulindia.com
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:54:51 +0530
Subject: Re: Electricity and biochar from pine needles
From: yogar...@gmail.com
To: biocha...@googlegroups.com
Thanks & Regards
Perses Bilimoria
The Society of Biochar Initiatives - India
"Sealand", 4th Flr,
41, Cuffe Parade,
Mumbai 400 005
Tel : +91 (22) 22150374
Fax : +91 (22) 2215 2065
Mobile : +91 98210 50328
Email : bili...@vsnl.com
Website : www.earthsoulindia.com
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:54:51 +0530
Subject: Re: Electricity and biochar from pine needles
From: yogar...@gmail.com
To: biocha...@googlegroups.com
Jain Rajnish
Oct 12, 2011, 1:18:40 AM10/12/11
to biocha...@googlegroups.com, Earthsoul India
Dear Perses,
Thank you so much for your support, as this project is going to be a very important initiative for people and ecology of sub Himalayan region.
With regards,
Rajnish
Dear Rajnish,
Congratulations !! I have forwarded your initiative to the International Biochar Institute, in the U.S. for recognition on an international level as well !!
Good Luck !!
Thanks & Regards
Perses Bilimoria
The Society of Biochar Initiatives - India
"Sealand", 4th Flr,
41, Cuffe Parade,
Mumbai 400 005
Tel : +91 (22) 22150374
Fax : +91 (22) 2215 2065
Mobile : +91 98210 50328
Email : bili...@vsnl.com <mailto:bili...@vsnl.com>
Website : www.earthsoulindia.com <http://www.earthsoulindia.com/>
Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:54:51 +0530
Subject: Re: Electricity and biochar from pine needles
From: yogar...@gmail.com
To: biocha...@googlegroups.com
Re: Electricity and biochar from pine needles
Dear Dr. Reddy,
I am very well and hope you are doing greatly. Thank you for your vote. So far, we have not made an progress on stove manufacture, but we are going to take it up once our pine needle project starts. We are specially interested in charcoal stoves.
With regards,
Rajnish
Dear Rajnishji,
How are you. It is great to know about the project. I have voted. Hope you should get this project. Is there any progress regarding the good stoves production and facilitation?
Regards,
Sai Bhaskar
On Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 3:48 PM, Jain Rajnish <yogar...@gmail.com <http://yogarajnish%40gmail.com> > wrote:
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