1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Rice husks as well as empty seeds are pyrolised and used as a soil amendment in the rice seed beds and the vegetable gardens.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Biochar is the residue left after the pyrolysis of any organic matter and is used as a soil amendment. Pyrolysis occurs when the organic matter is heated in anaerobic conditions, which is usually done in specially designed kilns. Sometimes it is also made in a conventional fire, which is extinguished before the char turns to ash. Agricultural wastes like rice husks or unfilled grains are mainly used. Biochar can have many positive effects on the soil and plants:
-It buffers the pH, and has usually a high pH due to theash content.
-Due to its porous structure, it holds water and serves as refuge for microorganisms.
-It absorbs and adsorbs nutrients, both cations and anions. They are available for the plant roots.
-It can increase the resistance of plants to diseases.
Due to all these effects, the increased yields are higher than those that can be achieved only through the nutrients contained in the Biochar itself. Biochar is and was used in many parts of the world as soil amendment, with some benefits persisting for centuries. In Cambodia it was used during the Pol Pot regime to reduce the smell of the human faeces that were used on the fields due to a lack of other fertilizers. Today research in the Biochar domain is increasing, especially since the discovery of the man-made terra preta soils in South America.

Biochar is mainly used to increase the fertility, water holding capacity and carbon content of the soil. The fact that the benefits of Biochar addition to the soil remain for several years, unlike chemical fertilizers, makes it attractive to farmers. Other purposes, like the increased resistance of plants to diseases and buffering of nutrients are also of importance.

Biochar was introduced or reintroduced trough different NGOs, JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency) in this case study. Because of knowledge exchange between farmers, a rice husk char/ash mix, as residue from the pottery baking, was used already in 2011. In 2013 JICA borrowed a Biochar kiln to the local farmer self-help group with a training, so they could produce Biochar by themselves. The inner part of the kiln (cf. technical drawing) is filled with wood and lit. It is then put into an empty oil barrel, which is filled with rice husks. The heat pyrolyses the husks from the bottom to the top of the barrel, and the gases are burned in the inner part of the kiln and the chimney. Just before the upper part is pyrolysed, the husks are extinguished. There is a weight loss of about 50 to 60 % caused by this process. The Biochar is added to the fields after ploughing, and the fields are harrowed. In this case study, Biochar is used both in rice seed beds and in a vegetable patch. Concentrations of 0.5 kg/m2 are used in the rice seed bed, and 2.5 kg for the vegetables. Due to the little available quantities of husks, Biochar is not applied to the field yet. The use of Biochar is spreading quickly from farm to farm

The analysed area is flat (slope < 2%), with a tropical climate (dry season from November to May and wet season from June to October), and the soils are mostly sandy or loamy. The soil has a low fertility, contains little organic matter, and acidifies. The area has been deforested a long time ago, and the groundwater table is rather high (1-2 m during the dry season, on the surface during wet season).
Due to climate change, farmers notice more erratic rainfall, temperature rises and more recurrent droughts. Rice is the predominant crop grown in the area, since it serves as staple food (mix subsistence and commercial activities). Cattle are usually grazing on the fields after the harvest, without much control. Thus the cattle grazes too often and too much on the same spot, leading to degradation.
The increasing migration rate (the young generation leaves the villages to work in the cities, garment industry or abroad) results in a decrease of available labour force in the area which has detrimental effects on the agricultural activities. Furthermore, the civil war in the 1970s (Khmer Rouge) led to the loss of agricultural knowledge. Several NGOs are trying to re-establish the knowledge.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Cambodia

Region/ State/ Province:

Kampong Chhnang

Further specification of location:

Kraing Leav

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:

• 0.1-1 km2

Comments:

Area unknown and rapidly spreading.

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

It was introduced in 2010 by JICA, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• vegetables - other
• vegetables - leafy vegetables (salads, cabbage, spinach, other)
• vegetables - root vegetables (carrots, onions, beet, other)
• vegetables - melon, pumpkin, squash or gourd

• rice, cucumber

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 210, Longest growing period from month to month: June-December

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soil fertility decline, water availability
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Water availability. Interestingly the farmer says that soil fertility is not a problem, as the farmers know about the use of compost. The compost application is the problem.
Livestock is grazing on crop residues

In the vegetable patch the farmer plants cucumber, pumpkin, onion, watermelon and leaf vegetables in the early wet season, before planting rice.

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

• Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)
• Ca: acidification

water degradation

• Ha: aridification

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management (Ploughing and bare soil during dry season.), labour availability (Farmers go to work in the garment industry, in construction, or sell their labor elsewhere.)
Secondary causes of degradation: deforestation / removal of natural vegetation (incl. forest fires) (Deforestation happened many years ago.), overgrazing (Uncontrolled grazing during dry season.), change in temperature (More hot days according to UNDP and farmers.)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Biochar kiln. In the inner part, the combustion chamber, a wooden fire is lit. The burning chamber is then placed in the oil barrel, which is filled with rice husks. The heat pyrolyses the husks, the gas burn in the chamber and chimney. When pyrolysis is almost completed, the char is extinguished.
Kampong Chhnang
Date: 2014

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate (When farmers only buy Biochar the required technical knowledge is low.)
Main technical functions: increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…)
Secondary technical functions: improvement of surface structure (crusting, sealing), improvement of topsoil structure (compaction)

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: Rice husk Biochar (together with compost, which he already did before)
Quantity/ density: 0.5-2.5
Remarks: Entity: kg/m^2. Distributing on fields and harrowing.

Author:

Stefan Graf, Switzerland

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Riels

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

4000.0

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

The costs are indicated per unit; a unit is one biochar kiln used on 1 a. The costs were calculated in 2014 for the vegetable beds, where the farmer uses around 2.5 kg/m2. He also uses Biochar on the rice seedling bed, with concentrations of around 0.5 kg/m2, 5 times less than in the vegetable patch. In the vegetable patch the farmer plants cucumber, pumpkin, onion, watermelon and leaf vegetables in the early wet season, before planting rice.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The factors affecting the cost the most are the biochar kiln, and the amount of added Biochar.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%
Off-farm income specification: handicraft, remittances and factory work

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• communal/ village
• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Comments:

Land users have a title that is not recognized by the state.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

Hydrological disasters

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Comments:

The costs for the pyrolysis kiln were not borne by the land user. But as the farmer of this case study wants to build an own kiln as soon as the NGO needs it again, it is positive.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
100 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
Considering only the farmers applying the technology with this stove. Other farmers buy Biochar, or burn the rice husks and extinguish them. But those farmers are nearly impossible to quantify as it changes quickly. The support was the kiln, which is only a small part of the costs.
Considering only the farmers applying the technology with this stove. Other farmers buy Biochar, or burn the rice husks and extinguish them. But those farmers are nearly impossible to quantify as it changes quickly.
In another area of Cambodia where the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is doing Biochar research, there was such a strong adoption of Biochar use that there are no more control areas. In Kampong Chhnang, the use of Biochar starts to spread now.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Ithaka Journal

Available from where? Costs?

www.ithaka-institut.org

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Biochar foundation

Available from where? Costs?

www.britishbiocharfoundation.org