Progress report for FNE24-103
Project Information
West Virginia's agricultural sector faces significant challenges due to poor soil quality and small scale rural farms having limited access to resources. Addressing this issue, Reeling for Results: Biochar & Fish Hydrolysate Netting Crop Growth aims to investigate innovative soil enhancement techniques. The primary objectives include assessing the effects of different ratios of soil and biochar charged in fish hydrolysate on:
- Crop Yields: the study will determine the impact of 10%, 15%, and 20% charged biochar to soil ratios on average per plant yield for four types of crops.
- Soil Health Analysis: the study will quantify the impact of 10%, 15%, and 20% charged biochar to soil ratios on soil pH levels, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, soil remediation, and nutrient availability.
Farmer Fred Antolini and Blue Acre Appalachian Aquaponics staff will share findings at the 2026 Small Farms Conference. Additionally, data will be showcased and disseminated through a series of three workshops during year three of the project. The workshops will disseminate the findings of the study, and teach both the basics of making biochar on-farm and the application of the bio-char/fish hydrolysate combination.
This initiative aims not only to enhance soil quality but also to equip West Virginia farmers with sustainable and efficient agricultural practices, to increase crop yields.
This project seeks to evaluate the impact of integrating biochar charged in fish hydrolysate, into soil, at three distinct ratios, to see how they impact crop yield and soil health across various crop types. The ultimate project goal incorporates the knowledge derived from this research into a comprehensive manual, designed to assist farmers in deployment of research supported, biochar charged in fish hydrolysate best practices.
Objective 1: Investigate the impact of different ratios of biochar charged in fish hydrolysate incorporated into soil on crop yields.
Objective 2: Quantify the impact of different ratios of biochar charged in fish hydrolysate incorporated into soil on soil health by conducting analysis of key soil parameters including pH levels, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, soil remediation, and nutrient availability.
Objective 3: Disseminate research findings on biochar/fish hydrolysate at Small Farms Conference, through hosting three workshops, and through a manual published on the Blue Acre Appalachian Aquaponics website.
Farmer Impact: This project will improve the knowledge base on the impacts of biochar/fish hydrolysate ratios on improving soil quality and crop
yield, potentially increasing access to soil amendments that are economically and environmentally sustainable, and that will remediate heavy clay soils for small farmers.
West Virginia is known for its diverse landscapes and rural communities that face unique challenges in agriculture, particularly concerning soil quality as many areas of the state contend with issues such as depleted soil nutrients, clay soils, ongoing monocropping, and erosion due to mountainous steep terrain. To mitigate these challenges and promote sustainable agriculture, innovative solutions that aerate soil and return biomass in a way that aligns with regenerative agriculture practices must be developed and shared.
West Virginia's agricultural landscape is characterized by several key challenges:
- Low Organic Matter: One significant issue is the low organic matter content in West Virginia's soils. Many factors, including deforestation and unsustainable land management practices, have contributed to this problem. Low organic matter negatively affects soil structure and water-holding capacity, impacting the growth of crops (Hood & Jones, 2018).
- Nutrient Deficiency: West Virginia soils often suffer from nutrient deficiencies, particularly in essential macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This can limit crop growth and overall agricultural productivity (Timmer, 2000).
- Soil Erosion: The state's rugged topography contributes to significant soil erosion, particularly during heavy rainfall events. Erosion results in the loss of topsoil, degradation of soil structure, and sedimentation in water bodies (Ghaley et al., 2019).
- Limited Access to Resources: Many farmers in West Virginia, particularly those in remote or economically disadvantaged areas, face challenges in accessing conventional agricultural inputs, including synthetic fertilizers and soil amendments.
The Potential Solution: Biochar and Fish hydrolysate
To address the soil challenges facing West Virginia, two sustainable soil amendments—biochar and fish hydrolysate—offer innovative and environmentally friendly potential solutions.
Biochar:
Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced through the pyrolysis of organic materials. The organic material utilized by West Virginia Farmer, Fred Antolini, in producing the Biochar for this project is native West Virginia hardwoods which are burned at high temperatures without oxygen. When incorporated into soil, biochar improves soil structure, increases nutrient retention, reduces soil acidity, and carbon sequestration (Lehmann & Joseph, 2009). These properties make it an excellent soil amendment.
Biochar's incorporation into West Virginia soils can significantly enhance soil organic matter content, improving soil structure and water-holding capacity (Sintim et al., 2019). Additionally, its high cation exchange capacity allows it to hold onto nutrients, making them more available to plants and mitigating nutrient deficiencies (Subedi et al., 2019). Biochar's alkaline properties can counteract soil acidity, creating more favorable conditions for plant growth in acidic soils (Ghaley et al., 2019).
Fish hydrolysate:
Fish hydrolysate is derived from fish processing waste, in the case of this study from the left over parts of Tilapia that are processed at the Blue Acre Appalachian Aquaponics facility. These byproducts are rich in organic matter. When applied to soils, hydrolysate can increase soil organic matter content over time which enhances soil structure, water-holding capacity, and nutrient retention (Nair et al., 2018). Fish hydrolysate also contains essential nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which are often deficient in West Virginia soils. When used as a fertilizer, fish hydrolysate can supply these nutrients to crops, improving their growth and increasing productivity (Ghosh et al., 2021). Fish hydrolysate serves as an alternative to conventional synthetic fertilizers and soil amendments. It can be more accessible to farmers in remote or economically disadvantaged areas as it utilizes fish processing waste, which may be locally available and more economical (Neelakantan et al., 2020).
Biochar with Fish Hydrolysate:
An emerging approach in West Virginia farming is the integration of biochar that is charged in fish hydrolysate to capitalize on the synergistic benefits of both practices. This novel combined approach aims to enhance soil health, increase crop yields, and reduce the environmental impact of agriculture in the state.
There is currently limited research on the impacts of combining Biochar and Fish hydrolysate (as hydrolysate differs from fish emulsion, for which there is much research) in the Appalachian region. This study will enhance the knowledge base and help to determine if there is an optimal application ratio that will improve soil quality and crop yield on West Virginia farms. This study hopes to determine if low organic matter, nutrient deficiencies, soil erosion, and limited access to conventional agricultural inputs, can be alleviated in the state through incorporating biochar charged with fish hydrolysate into small farm practices. These sustainable practices may have the ability to improve productivity, reduce costs and increase net farm income, while at the same time offering an alternative to traditional fertilizers that will have less impact on the environment.
Blue Acre Appalachian Aquaponics is a 10,000-square-foot aquaponics facility located in Mingo County, West Virginia. The farm produces a significant volume of fresh vegetables, primarily leafy greens, using aquaponic methods that integrate fish farming with plant production. This closed-loop system is environmentally sustainable, utilizing nutrient-rich water from fish tanks to fertilize plants.
Production Details:
Facility Size: 10,000 square feet.
Products: Leafy greens
Fish Production: Tilapia are used to maintain nutrient cycling within the system, which are then processed for sale. By-products remaining after fish processing are used to develop fish hydrolysate.
Markets and Sales:
Primary Markets: Local food banks and local residents through the onsite Blue52 Market.
Cooperators
- - Producer
- - Producer
- - Producer
- - Producer
- - Producer
- - Technical Advisor
Research
The timeline for this project has been slightly adjusted due to the time required to produce the biochar and fish hydrolysate. Instead of initiating the study in Year 1 as originally planned, the first year was repurposed as a planning and preparation phase. During this time, the biochar and hydrolysate were produced, and a comprehensive manual was developed for participating farms. The manual ensures that all farms follow standardized methods, thereby enhancing the consistency and reliability of the study's results.
Objective 1: Investigate the impact of different ratios of biochar charged in fish hydrolysate incorporated into soil on crop yields.
The research for this objective employs a systematic approach to identify the impact of soil ratios of biochar charged in fish hydrolysate on crop yield, tailored to meet specific crop nutrient requirements of various crop types. The study will be conducted with the participation of 8 farmers across various locations in West Virginia, ensuring diverse soil types and types of crops are represented.
Materials Needed:
- Biochar: A standardized form of biochar will be used, with consistent quality and composition produced by Farmer Fred Antolini.
- Fish Hydrolysate: The Fish hydrolysate used has been independently tested and will be produced by Blue Acre Appalachian Aquaponics.
- 5 Gallon Buckets
- Crop Yield Measurement Tool: Will calculate crop yield weight per plant.
- 4 Fields at Farms: 1. Chenoweth Farm 2. Random Rabbit 3. Joy and Hemp 4. Turtle on a Post
- Seeds: butternut squash, tomatoes, garlic, carrots
- Tiller:
Methodology:
- Site Selection and Preparation: Participating farms were chosen based on crop production type. Each farm will allocate one control plot and three test plots (10%, 15%, and 20% Biochar ratio).
- Biochar Charging: Each one cubic foot of biochar will be charged by soaking it in 2 two quarts of fish hydrolysate mixed into 12 quarts of water for a four hour time period.
- Application: This mixture will be tilled into the test plots soil. The control plot (#1) will receive no treatment. Plot #2 will have a 10% charged biochar to soil ratio per cubic foot, Plot #3 will have a 15% charged biochar to soil ratio per cubic foot, and Plot #4 will have a 20% charged biochar to soil ratio per cubic foot.
- Data Collection: Crop yields from both control and test plots will be measured and recorded with each harvest in alignment with the Data Collection Plan. At the end of the season the average yield per plant will be calculated for each test plot on each farm.
- Farmer Feedback: Participating farmers will provide insights on the practical aspects of application and observations on crop growth.
- Cost Analysis: Costs associated with each ratio will be documented to evaluate cost-effectiveness.
Data Analysis
Average Crop Yield over one year will be analyzed from the control plot and each test plot at each farm, and used to determine if the biochar/fish emulsion to soil ratios impacted the production yields. This information will be crucial in aligning the application with specific nutrient requirements for optimal yields of various types of crops.
Objective 2: Quantify the impact of different ratios of biochar charged in fish hydrolysate incorporated into soil on soil health by conducting analysis of key soil parameters including pH levels, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, soil remediation and nutrient availability.
Additional Materials needed:
- Soil Testing Collection Kits: To assess soil health parameters before and after the growing season, yearly.
Methodology:
Soil samples will be collected from each plot at each farm and sent out to an independent lab for analysis once before the biochar application, and once at the end of each growing season. The Lab will test for pH levels, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, soil remediation, and nutrient availability.
Data Analysis
Data will be analyzed to compare the soil health between the control and test plots, and used to determine the impact of the biochar/fish emulsion to soil ratios on soil quality. This information will be crucial in determining if there is an optimal ratio for improving soil quality.
Objective 3: Disseminate research findings on biochar/fish hydrolysate at Small Farms Conference, three workshops, and through a manual published on the Blue Acre Appalachian Aquaponics website. (Year 3)
Methodology:
- Research Compilation: Gather and analyze project research on biochar and fish hydrolysate to identify best practices and impact of various ratios on soil quality and crop yield.
- Manual Creation: Develop a comprehensive manual based on research findings, emphasizing user-friendly language and clear guidelines, for optimal biochar/fish hydrolysate to soil ratio for each type of crop.
- Attend Small Farms Conference: Distribute information, conduct demos and collect contact information of farmers who are interested in additional information on projects and/or to be involved in future research efforts.
- Conduct Three Workshops to Disseminate Findings: Disseminate the findings of the study through three workshops that teach both the basics of making biochar on-farm and the application of the bio-char/fish hydrolysate combination.
Promotion of Sustainability:
This project promotes sustainability by developing a best practice manual for the usage of biochar/fish hydrolysate as an eco-friendly soil amendment. By studying the optimization of their use, it is hypothesized that the project will contribute to improved soil health and increased crop productivity with minimal environmental impacts. Additionally, the use of biochar, a carbon-negative material, aids in carbon sequestration, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The project also supports sustainable farming practices, benefiting both the environment and local farming communities.
Economic Viability:
The project fosters economic viability by optimizing resource utilization through the use of locally produced, sustainable biochar/fish hydrolysate. The project implements waste stream management strategies for both fish waste products (fish hydrolysate) and forest debris management (Biochar), both of which not only help in managing organic waste efficiently but also create products that are beneficial for agricultural and environmental applications, contributing to sustainable waste management. This reduces dependence on costly synthetic fertilizers and is hypothesized to boost crop yields. By enhancing soil health and crop productivity, the project may support increased agricultural profitability, directly benefiting local farming communities with more cost-effective, productive, and environmentally friendly farming practices, thereby strengthening their economic resilience and livelihoods.
Education & Outreach Activities and Participation Summary
Participation Summary:
Consultations:
A consultation was held with Blue Acre Appalachian Aquaponics to discuss the requirements for hydrolysate production for the project, as well as best practices for its application and the process of charging biochar. Additionally, a consultation with Farmer Fred Antolini provided insights on optimal biochar applications. Finally, Brent Willis was consulted during the development of the farmer participation manual to ensure its accuracy and practicality.
Curricula, Factsheets, or Educational Tools:
A comprehensive farmer participation manual was developed to guide participants, ensuring consistency and adherence to standardized methods throughout the project.
Hydrolysate Development
Before Christian William's departure from Blue Acre Aquaponics, he created all of the Hydrolysate needed for the project. It has been bottled in 5 gal containers and transported to a more central hub for dispersion. Additionally, we're working with Mountain State CoHops cooperative any their bio-char producing farmers to produce another biochar for the project. That process is on-going as our vendors stockpile supply.