A couple of weeks ago I complained about the lack of comparatively rigorous biochar field trials. Soon after that a message came in on the biochar list about the trials being conducted by BlueLeaf Inc., which seemed to be doing comprehensive tests that measured many soil and vegetation parameters on a regular basis. They were doing the trials on a real farm, under real conditions, with proper controls. See the test plan.

See press release about 2009 mid-season update.

A mid-season report advised on certain key parameters for the season to date, primarily as they relate to biomass. A complete report covering all parameters and statistics will be issued at the end of the 2009 growing season.

Biochar was applied to the trial plot at the beginning of the growing season in 2008. A relatively low application rate of 3,500 lbs/acre (3,924 kgs/hectare) was used. No additional biochar has been applied since then. All test parameters are measured in both the biochar test plot and an adjacent untreated control plot. In 2008 the crop grown was soya. In order to respect regular crop rotations used on this farm, a forage crop was planted for the 2009 season. This forage crop is a mixture of four plant species - oat, timothy, ryegrass and clover. . .

Two methods for verifying biomass were used, prior to harvesting the first forage cut:

* 32-row, 1 oat plant per row, diagonal pattern, random, complete plant biomass sampling;
* Multiple 1 square meter, above-ground, all species, complete plant biomass sampling.

Total results of the 32-row complete oat plant harvest, for two sampling dates, indicate a total overall increase in biomass of 16% for the biochar plot versus the control. This increase for the biochar plot is broken down by plant component as follows:

* Roots: +50%
* Stems and leaves: +8%
* Flowers: +17%
* Total: +16%
. . .

Mid-season results for root mycorrhizal colonization show the biochar plants as having higher colonization rates than the control. . .

Mid-season results show total soil phosphorus increasing month-to-month in the biochar plot, while decreasing month-to-month in the control plot.

This is just a press release and doesn't really give an indication of the amount of parameters being tested. I look forward to a real report at the end of the season. It will have to be studied and discussed at length to understand just what the data means.