Biochar ... an alternative carbon source

2012
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) N/A
Year(s) 2012
Contributor Facey Group
Trial location(s) Corrigin, WA
Biochar ... an alternative carbon source locations
Aims

To determine the effectiveness of biochar on increasing soil carbon and soil stability.

Key messages

Carbon is generating plenty of interest at present and the project aims to answer questions around increasing organic carbon in agricultural soils through the addition of carbon source. It would be expected that the results will show minimal impact on soil carbon levels in the first year of trialling however will to be tested by the Facey Group in continuance to the project. Harvest results however require further investigation with such variance between the remainder of the paddock and the treatments within the trial.

Lead research organisation Facey Group
Host research organisation Facey Group
Trial funding source Caring for our Country
Related program Caring for our Country
Acknowledgments

This project (Soil Conservation Incentive Program (SCIP-5) Round 5) is supported by funding from Wheatbelt NRM under the Caring for our Country Program. Thank you to Shane and Dean Hill for the utilisation of land for the purpose of this trial and Kalyx Agriculture for contracted works throughout the season.


Other trial partners Wheatbelt NRM
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Rate
  • Soil Improvement: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated

Corrigin 2012

Sow date 2012
Harvest date 7 December 2012
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication 3
Fertiliser

Zinc foliar spray

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Biochar rate 0t/ha (control) 3.087
2 Biochar rate 1t/ha 2.806
3 Biochar rate 3t/ha 2.738
4 Biochar rate 5t/ha 2.804

Grain yield t/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Corrigin, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Corrigin, WA Sodosol
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 Corrigin WA
2012 279.3mm
2011 247.8mm
2010 251.2mm
2009 284.0mm
2008 274.6mm
2007 276.1mm
2006 340.3mm
2005 302.3mm
2004 285.3mm
2003 300.1mm
2002 250.7mm
2001 269.5mm
2000 358.5mm
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

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Corrigin WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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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

2012 trial report



Trial last modified: 25-07-2019 12:11pm AEST