2011 Annual Report for YNC10-049
Biochar production and application rate tests at Kansas City Community Farm
Summary
WORK ACTIVITIES
I have purchased all of the barrels necessary for making the biochar kiln. I have also assembled the kiln and collected enough wood for multiple batches of char.
OUTREACH
I have not completed enough work to show to anyone. However I have explained my project, in detail, to several farmers at the annual farmers’ meeting in KC.
WORK PLAN FOR 2011
In the next couple of weeks I will conduct my first burn. After that I will make any needed changes to the design of the kiln to make it the most productive. Then I will make several more batches of char. I will mix some with compost, and spray it all with water. Then I will mix it into one of the beds at Gibbs Road Farm (in different concentrations, with control as explained in my proposal). Over the season I will measure how the plants in that bed grow compared to the control to determine if there is any benefit from biochar on productivity.