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

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

Environmental Land Management and Rural Livelihood Project

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

Wageningen Agric. University (Wageningen Agric. University) - Netherlands

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:

Biological charcoal, or biochar, is porous charcoal obtained from biomass. Biochar as a soil amendment helps improve soil fertility as well as sequestering carbon in the soil.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Biological charcoal or biochar is porous charcoal obtained from biomass. To obtain biochar, biomass is loaded into a kiln that can be heated to very high temperature (higher than 500 degrees Farenheit). The biomass goes through a process of biodegradation called pyrolysis. After a few hours, this biomass is converted into a coal-like substance, which farmers can use as a soil amendment. Biochar is an alternative way to solve the problems of the environment such as healthy soils, food production and global warming reduction.
Such charcoal production is a technology that can be conducted from the level of farmers to the level of industries. Lehmann and Joseph (2009) collated research work related to the properties of biochar. It was found that biochar had a property of neutrality to alkalinity. It is porous, can hold water and has a composition of elements such as phosphorus, potassium and calcium - but especially carbon. Their findings indicated that biochar can absorb nutrients well, can withstand biological and chemical decomposition and promote activities of microorganisms in the soil. In addition to this biochar, through its positive effect on carbon sequestration, is another way to reduce the emission of carbon to the atmosphere - which is the cause of climate change through the greenhouse effect. Carbon is effectively locked in the biochar and not released. Much research has found that biochar is suitable for agricultural application. It improves soil properties physically, chemically and biologically. To work with biochar, we need a biochar kiln to produce it.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

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 land users' innovation

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• mitigate climate change and its impacts

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agroforestry

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

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

• natural and semi-natural forest management
• agroforestry
• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation
• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology unit

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

31.9

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Biochar application	after harvest crop

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Finding the area to install the set of the biochar-producing stove, make area adjustment for the base plate and the supply line, and the drainage course	person	10.0	35.0	350.0
Labour	Building the shelf for keeping Feed Stock and keeping the biochar	person	10.0	35.0	350.0
Labour	Building the electrical system for using the lighting equipment and Service Water	person	0.06	33.0	1.98
Labour	Building equipment parts of the biochar-producing stove, namely dust & exhaust -trapping equipment and the equipment assembling work, medium-levelled labor	person	0.86	16.6	14.28
Equipment	Building equipment parts of the biochar-producing stove, namely dust & exhaust -trapping equipment and the equipment assembling work, low-levelled labor	person	0.86	35.0	30.1
Equipment	Equipment costs for building biochar-producing stoves(Biochar klin for every kind of biomass together with Biochar klin for only rice husk biomass totalling 1 set),namely 200-liter used tanks, Induce Draft Fan, Electric Water Pump, High pressure water spray, Electric Wood Saw and other miscellaneous equipment	person	0.03	400.0	12.0
Equipment	Costs of materials which are iron ornaments, namely iron pipes, screws-nuts and others totaling 40 items for building the stove for 1 set	person	0.03	599.6	17.99
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					776.35
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					24.34

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Cleaning the pipe system and the spray head transferring the heat flame between the combustion chamber and the chamber containing biomass	Every time of the operation for 3 times
2.	Cleaning the perforated metal plate containing biomass in the stove producing biochar from rice husk	Every time of the operation for 3 times
3.	Inspecting defects of the metal exposed to high heat (Hot Spot)	Every year
4.	Major Overhaul	Every 2 years
5.	Inspecting and repairing the equipment trapping dust from exhaust	Every time of the operation for 6 times

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

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Preparing Feed Stock , transporting biomass materials and products	person	0.06	2200.0	132.0
Equipment	Miscellaneous equipment and tools for operation	set	0.03	333.3	10.0
Plant material	Firewood scraps can be bought locally(including transportation expenses)	kg	333.3	0.03	10.0
Plant material	Raw rice husk (including transportation expenses)	kg	333.3	0.06	20.0
Other	Yearly Inspection and Maintenance	time	33.3	1.3	43.29
Other	Electrical energy and tap water	time	3.33	3.3	10.99
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					226.28
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					7.09

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

construction materials

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

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:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

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

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
seasonal temperature		increase	well

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)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 11-50%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Yes

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

soil organic carbon

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Using agricultural material residues as production factors to help reduce costs and increase more soil fertility
There are material residues used as the factor producing biochar in the area
Being the learning center of the community

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Inventing and designing materials & equipment producing biochar for industrial production

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

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Regarding making materials & equipment for producing biochar, there ae high costs for some smallholders	Aggregation for making materials & equipment for the community
Not being able to produce industrially	Inventing and designing materials & equipment producing biochar for industrial production
Inventing and designing materials & equipment producing biochar for industrial production	Building a close system in order to manage the smoke, reducing the impact on the environment

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Biochar application for land improvement

URL:

https://qcat.wocat.net/th/wocat//techno;ogies/view/technologies_4750/

Title/ description:

Effect of Biochar Application on Soil Quality and Soil Carbon Sequestration in Acid Soils

URL:

www.adb.org

Title/ description:

Agriculture new Theory Komes Farm

URL:

www.komesmodel.com

7.4 General comments

Dr.Pansak Komes- SLM expert
Acting Sub - co-complier