Gasifier Charcoal as a Substitute for Vermiculite in Container Growing Media
Gasifier Charcoal as a Substitute for Vermiculite in Container Growing Media
Tom Miles, August 22, 2009
P Pine Seedlings in 25% Biochar
Our second trial of biochar as a substitute for vermiculite in container media for growing tree seedling has proved successful. These tests are by a private nursery to determine if charcoal from a gasifier heating system can be used in container growing media.
Last year weathered charcoal was collected from forest fire burns, milled, and used as a direct substitute for vermiculite in up to 50% of the container mix. Some of those trees have been retained in containers for a second year and still look good. At that time the forest tree nursery concluded that the biochar could be used for up to 50% of the mix with some adjustments to plant nutrition.
http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/charcoalmedia
This year the nursery filled a larger sample with media containing 25% biochar from a gasifier.
During gasification the char is made as wood (mixed Pine and Douglas Fir from the California Coast range) is subjected to temperatures of 1000 C (1832 F) in an oxidizing atmosphere and 850C (1562 F) in a reducing environment. Tars are volatilized and combusted to carbon dioxide and water. Tars are completely consumed in the process. The CO2 reacts with the devolatilized charcoal to form a gas rich in carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The gas will be used in place of propane to heat greenhouses.
Water is condensed from the gas. The recovered water (condensate) could probably be used to supplement irrigation. It is clear to light lemon colored and has a faint odor. It has a pH of 7.1 and is highly saline with an electrical conductivity (EC) of 5.1 mS/cm. It will be analyzed for composition.
Less than 5% of the dry fuel is recovered from the gasifier as a charcoal residue. The charcoal residue is still being characterized. It is small in size and puffy with powdery fines that are like a confectioner
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This is a great discovery. Experiments like this surely are effective and as replacements to trees that were burned or destroyed, there's a big hope that we still could save our forestries and some areas of our land that needs immediate awareness. Thanks for the post and more power to your good work. nutrition certificate
pH of the media with vermiculite is about 5.2
pH of the 25% charcoal media is about 6.1
pH of the charcoal alone wasn't measured.
Target pH is between 6-6.5
If the charcoal is the by product of a heating process the savings are equal to the cost of the vermiculite. We'll calculate it per ft3 of media.
What pH was the charcoal used?
What pH do pines like?
50% is amazing. What are the savings $ compared with using Vermiculite?