THE potential use of biochar in agriculture and the development of more resilient farming systems will be among topics discussed at a ‘Biochar and Biology’ workshop in the Mid West on September 7.
Including tours of on-farm biochar trials funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the workshop is being organised by the Mingenew Irwin Group and the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA).
Biochar is a stable form of carbon, similar to charcoal, produced from manure or plant matter under controlled, high temperature, low-oxygen conditions.
The production of biochar often involves generation of renewable energy.
While biochar is used to improve soils in some other parts of the world, less is known about its potential use in Australian broadacre agriculture.
DAFWA senior research officer Paul Blackwell said that in addition to discussing biochar and soil biology, the workshop would investigate the development of more resilient farming systems, which may incorporate biochar and renewable energy production.
“Specifically, we want to talk about on-farm production of woody biomass, which could be used to make biochar, and the potential of these new enterprises to help boost farm income during drier times,” he said.
The ‘Biochar and Biology’ workshop will include a field walk at a biochar field trial on the property of Irwin growers Carl and Rochelle Forward.
The trial is examining if biochar can reduce the requirement for ‘starter fertiliser’ – diammonium phosphates (DAP).
Lysimeter experiments on the property of Moonyoonooka grower Graham Royce will also be inspected.
Lysimeters are large containers to grow plants which can be used to collect and measure nutrients leached.
“These lysimeter experiments, conducted by DAFWA, will help establish whether biochar changes the way soil adsorbs and releases nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphates, and some herbicides,” Dr Blackwell said.
“The on-farm biochar trials are part of a GRDC funded project aiming to provide answers about how biochar can improve the long-term profitability of broadacre crops on low fertility sands.
“The ‘Biochar and biology’ workshop will also include a visit to a trial investigating coppicing (pruning) frequency of Acacia saligna.
“As well, growers will have the chance to use microscopes to inspect the association between biochar and mycorrhiza fungi.”
For more details about the ‘Biochar and Biology’ workshop or to register, contact Mingenew-Irwin Group executive officer Jane Bradley on (08) 9928 1645 or jane@mig.org.au
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