Biochar Extension Service
IBI offers an informational agricultural extension service to members of the IBI Network. If you have a question about how to use biochar in your soil, how to conduct a scientifically valid biochar trial, or are interested in learning about the most recent scientific research in the field, you can submit your inquiry to Julie Major, IBI Agricultural Extension Director or Jane Lynch, IBI Technology Extension Director, using the form below. Your question and answer may appear in the answers column so that others with similar questions can benefit from the answers.
Before submitting an agricultural question, please download and read IBI’s free Guide to Conducting Biochar Trials. You may find the answer there. You should also check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section of this website.
IBI Extension Services: Helping the Biochar Community Produce Results
In addition to the work IBI does to support biochar research and development, IBI also offers specialized professional consulting services on a contract basis in the areas of pyrolysis unit development and testing, and biochar utilization in soil. IBI staff are highly qualified and experienced in practical field work, including work in developed and developing countries.
IBI can offer support from setting up small field tests for your product to helping manage a biochar production unit. We are available to help with specific project details or creation of a project plan. If you are interested in specialized services, please feel free to contact Thayer Tomlinson at info@biochar-international.org who can direct you to the appropriate staff to set up an initial conversation.
The Guide to Conducting Biochar Trials
The Guide to Conducting Biochar Trials is a 32 page document that covers all aspects of designing and setting up a biochar experiment in a nursery or field plot. It covers quick and easy methods for testing biochar suitability, designing replication and controls, how to do soil testing and how to analyze your results.
Czech Version of the Biochar Trial Guide: Návod k provádení pokusu s biouhlem
The IBI Biochar Trial Registry
You can share your biochar trial results by submitting data forms to the IBI Field Trial Registry. Please be aware that at this time, this information will be archived, with the hope of expanding our projects database in the future. We also hope that the registration forms will be a useful tool to help organize and document your biochar trial inputs and results. Field Trial Registry forms are available for your Overall Project/Biochar composition and for Soil composition. For more information, contact Julie Major. If you would like to make information about your biochar trial available to the public, log in to your IBI member profile to create an entry in the Member Directory.
Guidelines for Development and Testing of Pyrolysis Plants
IBI produced the 32 page document, Guidelines for the Development and Testing of Pyrolysis Plants to Produce Biochar, to assist in the development and testing of small pyrolysis plants. Because there are personal and environmental health and safety risks inherent in producing biochar, IBI has developed these Guidelines to assist in the safe and effective development and testing of biochar production technologies
Ask the Extension Director Form (English, Français, Español, Português)
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