Washington State University (WSU) researchers and partners are set to delve into the impact of combining the use of biochar and hemp on important crops.
Biochar is created by heating organic matter in a low-oxygen environment through a process called pyrolysis. This results in a charcoal-like product that can be used to improve soil health and sequester carbon. Hemp can be used in rotation with other crops to help add nutrients, repair and aerate soils. It’s one of the many agricultural uses of hemp beyond the value of the crop itself.
But combine hemp and biochar and what happens? WSU researchers along with partner institutions will find out over 6 years through a project funded by $5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy, which was awarded to the project last year.
“Together, they might amplify each other’s effects,” says project leader David Gang. ” We want to see how different combinations of hemp and biochar affect the entire cropping system over time and how beneficial these practices are for soil health.”
Participating farmers will work with the researchers using biochar on their fields while also growing rotations of hemp, wheat, corn, chickpeas and other crops. WSU, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the University of Connecticut researchers will study the resulting effects on crop properties, ecosystems of fields, emissions and soil health. Two separate hemp rotations and more than a dozen different biochar treatments will be evaluated.
Yard Stick PBC, a private company that offers soil carbon measurement services, is also participating in the project by developing a specialised spectrometer probe, real-time soil analysis and learning models.
Mr Gang believes the combination will give plants better access to nutrients and see significant energy and labor savings, while decreasing environmental impact.
“We need soil that sustains our ability to feed ourselves,” he said. “This is something I need to do for my grandkids and my grandchildren’s grandchildren.”
On a related note, a potential source of biochar is also hemp – it can be produced through pyrolysis of stalks and seed husks. Along with other organic farm waste, farmers could convert hemp into what is a sustainable and valuable commodity. And it’s not just soil that can benefit. According to this study, hemp biochar has some interesting electrical conductivity attributes, perhaps offering opportunities for its use in electrical applications.
