BIOCHAR AND LOW ORGANIC MATTER

SOILSDuane Friend

Extension Educator

Acknowledgements

Funding for the study was through the Illinois Department of Agriculture Sustainable Ag Grant program

Additional assistance has been provided by the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

Field Study Details

Plots at 3 field sites with low inherent soil organic matter

Three replications of 0, 10 and 20 tons/acre (0, 24.7 tons/Ha, 49.4 tons/Ha) of biochar applied in 10 foot by 10 foot (305 by 305 cm) plots at each site

Each site planted to field corn, with normal agronomic operations

Examined soil changes, yield

McCully Heritage (Calhoun County)

Site had been in alfalfa

Was plowed, with biochar then applied and tilled in

Site was hand seeded with Roundup Ready corn

Central Illinois Irrigated Growers plot (Mason County)

Plot previously in field corn

Plot irrigated

Planted with Roundup Ready corn by farm operator

Site M (Jim Edgar Conservation Area- Cass County)

Plot previously in soybeans

Plot part of strip till field

Planted to non Roundup Ready corn, by farm operator

Organic Matter July 2012

Mason Cass Calhoun0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

Control10 tons/Ac20 tons/Ac

CEC values July 2012

Mason Cass Calhoun0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Control10 tons/Ac20 tons/Ac

Control 10 tons/Ac 20 tons/ac0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Calhoun County Plots (Bushels/Ac)Harvested 9.13.12

Mason County Plots (Bushels/Ac)Harvested 9.11.12

Control 10 tons/Ac 20 tons/Ac0

5

10

15

20

25

Cass County Plots (Bushels/Ac)Harvested 9.6.12

Control 10 tons/Ac 20 tons/Ac0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Organic Matter October 2012

Mason Cass Calhoun0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Control10 tons/Ac20 tons/Ac

CEC Values October 2012

Mason Cass Calhoun0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Control10 tons/Ac20 tons/Ac

Organic Matter May 2013

Mason Cass Calhoun0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Control10 tons/Ac20 tons/Ac

CEC Values May 2013

Calhoun Cass Mason0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Control10 tons/Ac20 tons/Ac

Soil pH values May 2013

Calhoun Cass Mason5.5

5.7

5.9

6.1

6.3

6.5

6.7

6.9

7.1

7.3

7.5

Control10 tons/Ac20 tons/Ac

2013

Will continue to monitor plots in 2013

Will take additional soil samples and do yield checks