Biochar (BCH)

This project of the Agroecology program continues the prior research of Dr. Steiner.

In many countries invasive woody species are consuming natural resource reservoirs and farmland. Farmers cannot farm without worries of unwanted or undesirable plants. How to control these to maximize food production is a very large challenge. Such invasive vegetation cost Americans alone $138 billion a year affecting farmland, aquatic and forest ecosystems.

In Hawaii, invasive fast-growing tree species are replacing native subtropical ecosystems. This project is to provide proof of concept in using invasive species to make charcoal and biochar (basically ground charcoal). Biochar is plowed into farm or garden land as a soil supplement enhancing growth and survival of beneficial soil microbes.

This project looks at providing inexpensive technology to farmers and the general public to make kilns, gather invasive trees, determine the quality of the biochar and amount necessary to increase land fertility, and develop an economic model demonstrating the number of jobs created and expected economic benefits for a rural community faced with these trees.