an official journal of: published by:
an official journal of: published by:
Editor in Chief: RAFFAELLO COSSU

BIOCHAR REPLACES PEAT IN HORTICULTURE: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF COMBINED BIOCHAR & BIOENERGY PRODUCTION

  • Lydia Fryda - Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, ECN, part of TNO, Netherlands
  • Rian Visser - Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, ECN, part of TNO, Netherlands
  • Jannick Schmidt - 2.-0 LCA consultants, Denmark

Released under CC BY-NC-ND

Copyright: © 2018 CISA Publisher


Abstract

Horticulture in temperate climate zones is energy intensive and the use of peat as the main ingredient in substrates releases additional GHG emissions during mining and processing. This paper evaluates the environmental impact of the co-production and application of bioenergy and biochar using agricultural and woody feedstock to replace natural gas and peat in horticulture by means of a life cycle analysis (LCA), including the timing of CO2 release and uptake, the decay of peat and biochar and the carbon stability of biochar and peat. Lab-scale data on biochar carbon recalcitrance compared to peat (~80% vs. 40% respectively) indicate that spent biochar-based substrates in soil are a carbon storage tool. The combination of bioenergy replacing fossil energy, biochar replacing peat in substrate and long term storage of the spent biochar in soil, contribute to GHG reductions.

Keywords


Editorial History

  • Received: 04 Oct 2018
  • Revised: 03 Dec 2018
  • Accepted: 19 Dec 2018
  • Available online: 31 Mar 2019

References

Acero, A. P., Rodríguez, C. and Ciroth, A. (2015, March 16). LCIA methods. Impact assessment methods in Life Cycle Assessment and their impact categories. Retrieved from https://www.openlca.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/LCIA-METHODS-v.1.5.4.pdf

Blok, C., van der Salm, C., Hofland-Zijlstra, J., Streminska, M., Eveleens, B., Regelink, I., . . . Visser, R. (2017). Biochar for horticultural rooting media improvement: Evaluation of biochar from gasification and slow pyrolysis. Agronomy, 7(1), 6.
DOI 10.3390/agronomy7010006

Chalker-Scott, L. (September 2014). Biochar: A home gardener’s primer. Accessed 08/31/2018. Retrieved from http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS147E/FS147E.pdf

Cherubini, F., Bird, N. D., Cowie, A., Jungmeier, G., Schlamadinger, B., & Woess-Gallasch, S. (2009). Energy- and greenhouse gas-based LCA of biofuel and bioenergy systems: Key issues, ranges and recommendations. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 53(8), 434-447

Cherubini, F., & Strømman, A. H. (2011). Life cycle assessment of bioenergy systems: State of the art and future challenges. Bioresource Technology, 102(2), 437-451

Consequential LCA. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://consequential-lca.org/clca/

Coleman, K., & Jenkinson, D. S. (2008). RothC - A model for the turnover of carbon in soil. Accessed 06/26/2018. Retrieved from https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/sites/default/files/RothC_guide_WIN.pdf

Cross, A., & Sohi, S. P. (2013). A method for screening the relative long-term stability of biochar. GCB Bioenergy, 5(2), 215-220

Dispenza, V., de Pasquale, C., Fascella, G., Mammano, M. M., & Alonzo, G. (2016). Use of biochar as peat substitute for growing substrates of Euphorbia × lomi potted plants. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 14(4), e0908.
DOI 10.5424/sjar/2016144-9082

ecoinvent (2016). https://www.ecoinvent.org/home.html

EURAL, http://www.euralcode.nl/

Eurowaste. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.eurowaste.be/pdf/eural-codes.pdf

Fascella. (2015). Growing substrates alternative to peat for ornamental plants. In Soilless culture. Use of substrates for the production of quality horticultural crops: InTech

Fertiplus. (n.d.). Reducing mineral fertilizers and agro-chemicals by recycling treated organic waste as compost and bio-char. Retrieved from http://www.fertiplus.eu/Fertiplus/index.xhtml

Field, J. L., Keske, C. M., Birch, G. L., DeFoort, M. W., & Cotrufo, M. F. (2013). Distributed biochar and bioenergy coproduction: a regionally specific case study of environmental benefits and economic impacts. GCB Bioenergy, 5(2), 177-191

Fryda, L., & Visser, R. (2015). Biochar for soil improvement: Evaluation of biochar from gasification and slow pyrolysis. Agriculture, 5(4), 1076-1115.
DOI 10.3390/agriculture5041076

Freschet, G. T., Weedon, J. T., Aerts, R., van Hal, J. R., & Cornelissen, J. H. (2012). Interspecific differences in wood decay rates: insights from a new short‐term method to study long‐term wood decomposition. Journal of Ecology, 100(1), 161-170

FSC: Principles and Criteria for Forest Stewardship Council, Document reference code: FSC-STD-01-001 V5-2 EN, Approval: 22 July 2015

Globalwood, retrieved 12/2/2018 from http://www.globalwood.org/market/timber_prices_2018/aaw20180602e.htm

Government of the Netherlands. (n.d.) Agriculture and horticulture. Retrieved from https://www.government.nl/topics/agriculture/agriculture-and-horticulture

Hagberg, L., & Holmgren, K. (2008). The climate impact of future energy peat production. Retrieved from https://www.ivl.se/download/18.343dc99d14e8bb0f58b7550/1445517377701/B1796.pdf

Harris, Z. M., Spake, R., & Taylor, G. (2015). Land use change to bioenergy: A meta-analysis of soil carbon and GHG emissions. Biomass & Bioenergery 82, 27-39.
DOI 10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.05.008

Hammond, J., Shackley, S., Sohi, S., & Brownsort, P. (2011). Prospective life cycle carbon abatement for pyrolysis biochar systems in the UK. Energy Policy, 39(5), 2646-2655

Hayes, M. H., & Wilson, W. S. (Eds.). (1997). Humic Substances, Peats and Sludges: Health and Environmental Aspects. Elsevier

HortiBlue-C. (n.d.). Sustainable up-cycling of agro-, agrofood and fisheries residues in horticulture and agriculture as bioenergy, biochar and chitin-rich product. Retrieved from https://www.interreg2seas.eu/en/Horti-blueC

Humbert, S., Margni, M., & Jolliet, O. (2005). IMPACT 2002+: User guide. Draft for version 2. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.454.741&rep=rep1&type=pdf

IEA 2012. Wood pellet production in Baltic States Task 40 Sustainable International bioenergy trade. Coordinated by Cocci. M. Retrieved 12/01/2018 from http://task40.ieabioenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/IEA-Wood-Pellet-Study_final-july-2017.pdf

Indirect Land Use Change Model, 2013 available in https://lca-net.com/projects/show/indirect-land-use-change-model-iluc/

International Biochar Initiative. (n.d.). Biochar is a valuable soil amendment. Retrieved from http://www.biochar-international.org/biochar

Kubecek, V and Tonolo, G., (2014). Electricity Information 2014 (with data from 2013).) Retrieved from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Paris Cedex, FR IEA. ISBN 978-92-64-21692-1

IPCC. (2013). Climate change 2013: The physical science basis. contribution of working group I to the fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC: Stocker, T.F., Qin, D., Plattner, G.-K., Tignor, M., Allen, S. K., Boschung, J., . . . Xia. Y

IPCC. (2014a). Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Geneva, Switzerland: Pachauri, R. K., & Meyer, L. A. Accessed 01/10/2018. Retrieved from https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr/

IPCC. (2014b). Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories – Wetlands

Karki, R. (2018). Vermi-biochar as alternative to peat as growing substrate for greenhouse vegetables. Retrieved from Brage – NMBU’s Open Research Archive. https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/2502637/Karki.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Kern, J., Tammeorg, P., Shanskiy, M., Sakrabani, R., Knicker, H., Kammann, C., . . . Glaser, B. (2017). Synergistic use of peat and charred material in growing media–An option to reduce the pressure on peatlands? Journal of Environmental Engineering and Landscape Management, 25, 160-174

Lehmann, & Joseph. (2015). Biochar for Environmental Management: Science, Technology and Implementation. Routledge

Leng, L., Huang, H., Li, H., Li, J., & Zhou, W. (2019). Biochar stability assessment methods: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 647, 210–222

Myers, R. (2011). Biochar as a Tool for Climate Change Mitigation and Soil Management, in Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology. R. Myers (Ed.). New York, NY: Springer.
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3

PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. (2017). Limiting global temperature to 1.5°C (PBL publication number: 2743)

Paulis, R. (July 10, 2017). Peat and peat moss alternatives. Accessed 08/31/2018. Retrieved from https://www.gardenmyths.com/peat-moss-alternatives/

Peano, L., Loerincik, Y., Margni,M., Rossi, V. Comparative life cycle assessment of horticultural growing media based on peat and other growing media constituents. Final report prepared by Quantis for the European Peat and Growing Media Association (EPAGMA), January 2012, Quantis Switzerland, Lausanne . Retrieved November 25th 2018 from comparative-life-cycle-assessment-of-horticultural-growing-media-based-on-peat-and-other-growing-media-constituents%20(2).pdf

Saez de Bikuña Salinas, K., & Ibrom, A. (2017). Enquiring into the roots of bioenergy - epistemic uncertainties in life cycle assessments. Accessed 09/07/2018. Retrieved from orbit.dtu.dk

Schmidt H‐P., Anca‐Couce, A., & Hagemann N., Pyrogenic carbon capture and storage. GCB Bioenergy.
DOI 10.1111/gcbb.12553

Schmidt, J. H., & Brandao, M. (2013). LCA Screening of Biofuels - Iluc, Biomass Manipulation and Soil Carbon. Copenhagen, Denmark

Schmidt, J. H., Weidema, B. P., & Brandão, M. (2015). A framework for modelling indirect land use changes in life cycle assessment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 99, 230-238

Spokas, K. (2010). Review of the stability of biochar in soils: predictability of O:C molar ratios. Carbon Management, 1(2), 289–303

Stadsbosbeheer, official Dutch website https://www.staatsbosbeheer.nl/over-staatsbosbeheer/dossiers/bos-en-hout/visie-en-beleid

Steiner, C., & Harttung, T. (2014). Biochar as a growing media additive and peat substitute. Solid Earth, 5, 995

The 75th Session of The UNECE Committee on Forests and Forest Industry. (2017). The Netherlands National Market Report 2017

The Carbon Cycle Project. (2010). Global carbon cycle. Retrieved from http://kfrserver.natur.cuni.cz/globe/others.htm

The Eco Ferry Consortium (2013). Eco Island Ferry ‐ Comparative LCA of island ferry with carbon fibre composite based and steel based structures. Aalborg, Denmark: Schmidt J. H., & Watson, J

Topsector Energie. (n.d.) EnerChar. Retrieved from https://projecten.topsectorenergie.nl/projecten/enerchar-00027462

UNFCC. (n.d.) National inventory submissions 2017. Accessed April 2018. Retrieved from http://unfccc.int/national_reports/annex_i_ghg_inventories/national_inventories_submissions/items/10116.php

van Vuuren, D., Hof, A., Gernaat, D., de Boe H.-S. (2017). Limiting global temperature to 1.5°C. Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), The Hague, 2017, PBL publishers. Publication number: 2743

Vaughn, S. F., Kenar, J. A., Eller, F. J., Moser, B. R., Jackson, M. A., & Peterson, S.C. (2015). Physical and chemical characterization of biochars produced from coppiced wood of thirteen tree species for use in horticultural substrates. Industrial Crops and Products, 66, 44-51

Verhagen, A., van den Akker, J.J.H., Blok, C., Diemont, W.H., Joosten, J. H. J., M. A. Schouten, . . . Wösten, J. H. M. (2009). Scientific Assessment and Policy Analysis, the Netherlands Programme on Scientific Assessment and Policy Analysis Climate Change (WAB) Report nr. 500102 027, Peatlands and carbon flows, Outlook and importance for the Netherlands

Weidema B. P. (2009). Using the budget constraint to monetarise impact assessment results. Ecological Economics, 68(6),1591-1598

Weidema, B. P., Wesnæs, M., Hermansen, J., Kristensen, T., Halberg, N. (2008). Environmental Improvement Potentials of Meat and Dairy Products. Eder P. & Delgado L. (Eds.) Sevilla: Institute for Prospective Technological Studies

Woolf, D., Amonette, J. E., Street-Perrott, F. A., Lehmann, J., & Joseph, S. (2010). Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change. Nature Communications, 1, 56