Characterization of Pyrolysis Char for Use as an Agricultural Soil Amendment

Characterization of Pyrolysis Char for Use as an Agricultural Soil Amendment
Keith Harris1, Julia Gaskin1, Leticia Sonon2, and K.C. Das1
1Dept. of Biol. & Ag. Eng., 2AESL, College of Ag & Env. Sci University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Introduction:
The Southeastern Coastal Plain in the United States is a major agricultural production area; however, soils are typically low in cation exchange capacity (CEC), nutrient content, and organic carbon content. For example, Tifton
loamy sand (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults) has organic carbon, CEC, and base saturation
of less than 1%, 5 cmol kg-1, and 40%, respectively in the Aphorizon.

Studies of charcoal in forest and agricultural systems indicate it affects soil fertility parameters and may affect
overall productivity (Tryon, 1948; Glaser et al., 2002; Briggs, 2005). This study reports preliminary screening of pyrolysis chars from several feedstocks for nutrient concentrations and CEC.

Material and Methods:
Char: Peanut hull pellets (PN), pine chips (PC), pine bark (PB), sawdust (SD), and hardwood chips (HW) produced at
380, 400, and 420