Impact of biochar on crop yield and nitrogen

2010
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Daniel Dempster (UWA)
Nadine Hollamby (Liebe Group)
Year(s) 2010
Contributor Liebe Group
Trial location(s) Buntine, WA
Impact of biochar on crop yield and nitrogen locations
Aims
  • To determine the impacts of Biochar on crop yield.
  • To determine how Biochar influences plant nitrogen uptake and soil nitrogen mineralization.
  • To compare the effectiveness of different methods of applying Biochar to the soil.
Key messages
Not specified
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Daniel Dempster and Andrew Wherrett from the University of Western Australia for collaborating with the Liebe group on this trial. Trevor Bell and colleagues at DAFWA’s Research Support Unit in Geraldton for applying Biochar and seeding and harvesting the trial.


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Nutrition
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Buntine 2010

Sow date 17 July 2010
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 20m x 2m
Plot replication 4
Fertiliser

17/7/10: 50 kg/ha Double phos. Urea as per treatments

Herbicide

17/7/2010: 2 L/ha Sprayseed, 1.5L Treflan

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

@T1: Post tillering @T2: Athesis
# Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Nitrogen uptake (kg N/ha) Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha) Biomass (t/ha) Biomass (t/ha)
1 Banded Biochar 0 kg N/ha 23 8.9 1.3 0.5 3.8
1 Nil Biochar 0 kg N/ha 27.7 9.2 1.4 0.4 3.9
1 Spread Biochar 0 kg N/ha 28.7 8.7 1.6 0.5 4.3
2 Banded Biochar 20 kg N/ha 29.5 10 1.4 0.7 4.2
2 Nil Biochar 20 kg N/ha 28.6 9.8 1.4 0.6 4.5
2 Spread Biochar 20 kg N/ha 26 9.7 1.3 0.7 4.9
3 Banded Biochar 40 kg N/ha 39.5 11.4 1.5 0.8 5.5
3 Nil Biochar 40 kg N/ha 35.3 10.7 1.5 0.8 5.2
3 Spread Biochar 40 kg N/ha 35.3 11.4 1.4 0.9 4.7
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Grain yield t/ha


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Biomass t/ha


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Nitrogen uptake kg N/ha


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Protein %


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Site Depth Type pH EC P K N A OC CAT
Buntine, WA 0 - 10cm Sandy loam 5.50 0.04
Buntine, WA 10 - 30cm Sandy loam 4.60
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Buntine, WA Sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Buntine, WA Kandosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Buntine WA
2010 119.4mm
2009 144.3mm
2008 187.8mm
2007 156.0mm
2006 163.2mm
2005 150.1mm
2004 141.2mm
2003 146.6mm
2002 102.7mm
2001 97.9mm
2000 171.9mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Buntine WA 2010


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 166mm

Derived climate information

Buntine WA

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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2010 trial report