2017 ASHS Annual Conference
Participatory Research on Organic Farms Does Not Support the Use of Biochar
Participatory Research on Organic Farms Does Not Support the Use of Biochar
Wednesday, September 20, 2017: 2:00 PM
King's 3 (Hilton Waikoloa Village)
Biochar, a form of black carbon created from the pyrolysis of plant biomass, has been shown to improve soil fertility and increase crop yields when applied to some soils. Indiana vegetable producers are interested in using biochar to improve crop productivity and soil health on their farms but need unbiased research to make informed decisions about the potential benefits and costs of using biochar. We used a collaborative participatory research approach to co-design and manage the experiment with farmers. We also used a structured student internship program in which the interns managed research plots, collected data, and assisted with key farm operations. Six organically managed farms participated in the project. Undergraduate students were selected from a pool of candidates from across the state and paired with a farmer based on interest and proximity. Six new interns were selected each year. Biochar, produced from a pine feedstock, was incorporated into the soil in spring 2015 at rates equivalent to 0, 10 and 20 tons/h. Potatoes and kale were grown in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Biochar had no effect on potato yields in 2015 on any farm and did not affect kale yields on four farms in 2016. The effect of biochar on the two remaining farms in 2016 was contradictory; kale biomass increased on one farm but decreased on the other farm. The interns completed questionnaires before and at the end of their internships. They indicated that the internship increased their understanding of farm budgets, marketing, pest and soil management, and their interest in participating in research generally and in on-farm research specifically. All of the interns indicated that their overall experience was very positive. Similarly, the farmers indicated that they considered their intern to be an asset to their farm and, at the end of the second year, remained very interested in serving as a mentor for student interns. Given the current expense of biochar, this research does not support its use on Indiana vegetable farms. However, the use of a participatory research approach, coupled with a structured research internship, appears to have potential to increase farmer interest in and understanding of research and to increase the understanding of students of farm life and farm management.