This is a research project in progress. A full report with results will be available at the end of the year [2014] and after the thesis has being defended at Clark University. This research is funded by Purdue University Center for Global Food Security through a grant funded by the USAID.

1. Enhancing
Produc.vity
and
Livelihoods
Among
Smallholder
Irrigators
through
Biochar
and
Fer.lizer
Amendments
at
Ekxang
Village,
Vien.ane
Province,
Lao
PDR
Jenkins
Macedo,
Lead
Researcher
Msc.,
14
Environmental
Engineering
&
Policy/Clark
University
MA.,
12
Interna?onal
Development
&
Social
Change/Clark
University
Mixay
Souvanhnachit
Bsc.,
15
Irriga?on
Engineering
at
DWRE/NUOL
Advisors
Dr.
Paul
Pavelic,
Hydrogeologist/IWMI
Dr.
Timothy
Downs,
Environmental
Engineer/Clark
University
Dr.
Marianne
Sarkis,
Sociocultural
Anthropologist/Clark
University
The
Na.onal
Agriculture
&
Forestry
Research
Ins.tute
(NAFRI)
15th
Anniversary
Symposium
on
Agriculture
and
Forestry
Research
for
Development
April
10,
2014

2. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
2
OUTLINE
I.
RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES
&
CONTEXT
II.
HYPOTHESES
III.
EXPERIMENTAL
PROTOCOL
i. Experimental
Units
IV.
DATA
COLLECTION
&
ANALYSES
i. Soil
Samples
ii. IrrigaRon,
Weather
StaRon
&
Soil
Moisture
Assessment
iii. Crop
Growth
&
Yields
Record
iv. Cost-­‐Benefit
EvaluaRon
of
Farming
ProducRvity
V.
NEXT
STEP

3. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
3
RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES
1.
To
assess
whether
or
not
rice
husk
biochar
inoculated
with
cow
manure
and
manure
tea
plus
NPK
amended
in
soil
increase
soil
nutrient
status
and
improve
crop
yields
relaRve
to
the
tradiRonal
farming
pracRce.
2. To
assess
the
potenRal
of
biochar
to
improve
soil
water
availability.
3. To
evaluate
the
costs,
benefits
and
constraints
of
agricultural
producRvity
of
smallholder
irrigators
at
Ekxang
village.

4. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
4
CONTEXT
OF
THE
STUDY
²
VariaRons
in
rainfall,
increased
surface
temperature,
persistent
drought,
reduced
soil
moisture
and
crop
failures
have
all
been
linked
to
climate
change.
² These
changes
influence
shis
in
ecosystem
regimes
inducing
regional
and
global
food
insecurity
issues.
² Water
scarcity
for
agricultural
producRvity
during
the
dry
season
in
the
VienRane
Province
conRnues
to
be
a
major
challenge.
² Sustainable
groundwater
irrigaRon
has
a
potenRal
role
to
contribute
to
the
water
scarcity
needs
of
farmers.

5. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
5
Research
Ques.on
HYPOTHESES
Tests
Parameters
Null
Alterna.ve
1.
Does
the
applicaRon
of
rice
husk
biochar
inoculated
with
cow
manure
and
manure
tea
plus
NPK
amended
in
soil
increase
nutrient
status
and
improve
crop
yields
relaRve
to
the
tradiRonal
farming
pracRce?
HO
:
As
a
result
of
the
applicaRon
of
biochar
of
rice
husk
inoculated
with
cow
manure
and
manure
tea
plus
NPK
amended
in
soil,
there
will
be
no
significant
difference
in
soil
nutrient
status
and
improve
crop
yields
relaRve
to
the
tradiRonal
farming
pracRce.
HA:
As
a
result
of
the
applicaRon
of
biochar
of
rice
husk
inoculated
with
cow
manure
and
manure
tea
plus
NPK
amended
in
soil,
there
will
be
significant
difference
in
soil
nutrient
status
and
improve
crop
yields
relaRve
to
the
tradiRonal
farming
pracRce.
Analysis
of
Variance
(ANOVA)
Soil
pH
(pH
(H2O,
KCl),
%(NPK),
CEC,
%
Organic
Maeer,
Bulk
density,
%
(CaCO3),
Al+,
soil
temperature
(°F),
Fresh
weight
(g/plt),
Dry
weight
(mg/plt),
Root
mass
(%),
Root-­‐Shoot-­‐
RaRo,
Plant
Height
(cm/plt),
Leave
count/plt,
Whole
Plot
Harvest
(kg/m2).
2.
Does
rice
husk
biochar
improves
soil
water
availability?
HO
:
As
a
result
of
the
applicaRon
of
rice
husk
biochar,
there
will
be
no
significant
difference
in
soil
water
availability.
HA:
As
a
result
of
the
applicaRon
of
rice
husk
biochar,
there
will
be
significant
difference
in
soil
water
availability.
Analysis
of
Variance
(ANOVA)
Soil
pH
(pH
(H2O,
KCl),
Soil
Moisture,
EC,
SAR,
TDS,
ETc,
temperature
(°F),
H20
%
by
Mass,
%TAW,
WP%,
FC%
3.
What
are
the
costs,
benefits
and
challenges
of
agricultural
producRvity
of
the
experiment
relaRve
to
the
tradiRonal
farming
pracRce
of
smallholder
irrigators
in
Ekxang
village?
HO
:
As
a
result
of
the
costs,
benefits
and
challenges
of
agricultural
producRvity
of
the
experiment
relaRve
to
the
tradiRonal
farming
pracRce
of
smallholder
irrigators
in
Ekxang
village,
there
are
no
significant
increases
in
agricultural
producRvity.
HA:
As
a
result
of
the
costs,
benefits
and
challenges
of
agricultural
producRvity
of
the
experiment
relaRve
to
the
tradiRonal
farming
pracRce
of
smallholder
irrigators
in
Ekxang
village,
there
are
significant
increases
in
agricultural
producRvity.
Costs
&
Benefits
Analysis
Total
Area
(m2),
crop
type,
water
source
type,
irrigaRon
scheme,
water
quality,
depth
of
well,
depth
of
groundwater,
age
of
well,
total
area
irrigated,
setup
cost,
labor,
crop
yield,
selling
price,
total
input
costs,
gross
revenue,
net
revenue,
normalized
revenue,
#
of
crop
per
year,
months
of
cropping
per
year.

6. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
6
EXPERIMENTAL
PROTOCOL
Experimental
Units
²
The
Randomized
Complete
Block
Design
was
used
² Two
sites
located
in
paddy
rice
fields
were
selected
for
biochar
trials
on
two
crops
(Morning
Glory
&
Leeuce)
for
one
growing
season
(April-­‐June,
2014).
²
5
treatment
by
4
replicaRons
by
2
crops
(5
by
4
by
2
=
40)
factorial
structure
is
being
used.
Site
B
features
(area
=
1104m2);
LocaRon:
18°
21.549'
(N)
to
102°
27.751'
(E)
about
800
meters
from
site
A.
Site
A
features
(area
=
480m2);
LocaRon:
18°
21.172'
(N)
to
102°
27.471'
(E).

7. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
7
Ban
Ek
Xang
Land
Use
Map
&
Sites
Loca.on
Source:
IWMI-­‐GWP-­‐Updated,
2014

8. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
8
Source:
Geological
and
Mineral
map
of
Ekxang
Village
area,
Scale:
1:200,000.
Department
of
Geology
and
Mineral,
MoNRE
Geological
Map
of
Ekxang
Village

9. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
9
TREATMENT
SPECIFICATION
Num
Treatment
Regimes
Rates
of
Applica.on
Irriga.on
Requirement
(mm/day)
Morning
Glory
Leuce
1
Control
+
IrrigaRon
1.5
kg/m2
rice
husk
+
1.5kg/
m2
rice
straw
(RH+RS)
4mm/day
4mm/day
2
Rice
Husk
Biochar
(RHB)
+
IrrigaRon
3kg/m²RHB
4mm/day
4mm/day
3
Rice
Husk
Biochar
(RHB)
+
Cow
Manure
(CM)
+
IrrigaRon
1.5kg/m²RHB
+
1.5kg/m²CM
4mm/day
4mm/day
4
Rice
Husk
Biochar
(RHB)
+
Manure
Tea
(MT)
+
IrrigaRon
3kg/m²RHB
+
4L/m²MT
4mm/day
4mm/day
5
Rice
Husk
Biochar
+
Cow
Manure
+
NPK
1.5kg/m²RHB
+
1.5kg/m²CM
+
0.23kg/m²NPK
4mm/day
4mm/day

10. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
10
PYROLYSIS
PROCESSES
FOR
BIOCHAR
PRODUCTION
A.
Metal-­‐Drum
Method
2
1
3
4
5
6
7
1.
50kg
metal
drums
for
internal
system
(Retort).
It
provided
extra
combusRon
2.
Rice
husk
and
rice
straw
biomasses
3.
Fill
retort
with
biomass
4.
Close
the
lid
5.
Put
sealed
retort
into
the
Kiln
(external
system
200gal
drum).
6. Fill
surrounding
kiln
with
biomass/fuel
and
add
fire.
7.
Remove
biochar
from
the
retort
aer
5-­‐7
hours
and
cool
with
water.

11. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
11
1
2
3
4
B.
THE
EARTH-­‐Method
1.
Pile
the
biomass
into
a
cone
liked
shape
and
create
a
crater
for
fire
in
the
middle.
2.
Completely
cover
the
biomass
with
either
fresh
grass/dry
grass
to
enhance
burning
and
to
serve
as
a
protecRve
layer
between
the
biomass
and
soil.
3.
Cover
the
cone
with
soil
at
about
1
inch
Rck
without
completely
covering
the
top
where
the
fire
will
be
placed.
Start
the
fire
and
make
sure
that
It
burning.
Cover
with
extra
biomass
and
cover
the
top
of
the
cone
with
soil.
4.
Depending
on
the
quanRty
of
rice
husk,
let
it
burn
for
about
8-­‐12
hours,
remove
the
soil
with
a
shovel/rake
and
apply
water
to
cool
the
biochar.

12. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
12
Farmers’
Approach
Modified
Approach

13. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
13
Descrip.on
Metal
Drum
Method
Earth
Method
Comment
Materials
1. 90,000
kip/200gal
drum
(6)
=
540,000.00kip
2. 50,000
kip/50kg
drum
(6)
=
300,000.00kip
3. Other
(25,000.00
x
6)
=
150,000
kip
Grand
Total:
990,000.00kip
Not
Require
Time
Each
15kg
retort
filled
with
rice
husk
biomass
burned
for
8
hours
and
produced
10kg
biochar
on
average.
A
tractor
load
of
rice
husk
biomass
(≈1000kg)
burned
for
48
hours
produced
800kg
of
biochar.
Labor
Requires
about
15
minutes
to
prepare
each
retort
and
kiln
to
be
stocked
with
rice
husk
biomass.
All
six
systems
take
about
1hour
30
minutes.
Piling
the
rice
husk
biomass
into
a
cone-­‐like
shape,
adding
rice
straw
(if
available)
and
covering
with
soil
takes
about
an
hour.
Extra
biomass
for
fuel?
Yes,
the
external
kiln
system
requires
addiRonal
biomass
to
burned
to
generate
the
require
heat
energy/temperature
for
the
retort
usually
we
used
30kg
of
rice
husk
and
about
5kg
of
rice
straw.
All
these
extra
biomass
burned
to
ashes.
Not
Require
Biochar
1500kg
of
rice
husk
biomass
produced
750kg
≈1000kg
rice
husk
biomass
produced
800kg
of
biochar.
Char
Quality
Very
good,
but
small
quanRty.
Could
contain
ash
if
allow
to
overstay.
Very
good,
but
could
contain
ash
if
overstay.
Farmers’
feedbacks
Labor
intensive,
expensive,
biomass
takes
longer
to
burn,
needs
to
burn
too
much
biomass
to
produce
small
quanRty
of
char,
but
the
system
controls
smoke
and
char
quality
are
very
good.
Not
expensive,
no
extra
biomass
needs
to
be
burned,
faster
to
produce
more
biochar,
not
Rme
consuming,
needs
to
be
monitored
to
prevent
air
penetraRon.
COMPARISONS
OF
BOTH
PYROLYSIS
METHODS

14. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
14
Rice
Husk
Biomass
Rice
Husk
Ash
Rice
Husk
Biochar
BIOMASS,
BIOCHAR
&
ASH

15. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
15
PROCESSING
BIOCHAR
POST
PYROLYSIS
Removing
the
soil
Wevng
Biochar
to
quench
the
fire
Always
keep
biochar
wet
InoculaRng
biochar
with
manure
InoculaRng
biochar
with
manure
tea
Manure
Tea

16. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF BIOCHAR
Source: UK Biochar Research Center, 2013

17. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
17
THE ESSENTIAL STABILITY OF BIOCHAR
Source: Lehmann et al. 2006. Mitigation & Adaptation
Strategies for Global Climate Change 11, 403-427.

18. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
18
Trial
Crops
Both
crops
tolerate
poor
soil
condiRons,
can
be
grown
quickly
and
during
this
Rme
of
the
year,
and
form
part
of
the
local
diet.
Leuce
(Lactuca
sa?va):
Loose-­‐leaf
variety
Pak
Bong
(Ipomoea
aqua?ca)
Morning
Glory

19. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
19
Legend:
RH + RS = Rice Husk plus Rice Straw RHB = Rice Husk Biochar RHB + CM = Rice Husk Biochar inoculated with Cow Manure
RHB + MT = Rice Husk Biochar inoculated with Manure Tea RHB + CM + NPK = Rice Husk Biochar inoculated with Cow Manure + NPK
SITE
A
TREATMENTS
&
CROP
LAYOUT

20. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
20
SITE
B
TREATMENTS
&
CROP
LAYOUT
Legend:
RH + RS = Rice Husk plus Rice Straw RHB = Rice Husk Biochar RHB + CM = Rice Husk Biochar inoculated with Cow Manure
RHB + MT = Rice Husk Biochar inoculated with Manure Tea RHB + CM + NPK = Rice Husk Biochar inoculated with Cow Manure + NPK

21. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
21
SOIL
CHEMICAL
&
PHYSICAL
ANALYSES
1.
Soil
Chemical
Analysis
(QuanRtaRve
Analysis)

22. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
22
Visual
Soil
Assessment
(VSA)-­‐PHYSICAL
(Semi-­‐Quan.ta.ve
Analysis)

23. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
23
IRRIGATION,
WEATHER
STATION
&
SOIL
MOISTURE
MONITORING
1. Sprinklers
IrrigaRon
Systems
²
Installed
Overhead
sprinkler
with
360°
spray
angles
with
5m
spray
radius
5m
apart
and
2m
height.
²
Installed
series
of
collectors
at
2m
to
monitor
spray
coverage.
²
Monitor
cumulaRve
water
use
with
water
meters.
²
Used
mobile
applicaRon
“Wind
Free”
to
monitor
wind
speed
and
direcRon.
²
IrrigaRon
applicaRon
rate
for
both
crop
4mm/day.

24. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
24
Hanna
92198
EC/TDS/TEMP/pH

25. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
25
WEATHER
STATION
Rainfall
measured
HT20
RH/TEM/GPP/DPT/SR/WS-­‐WD

26. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
26
Source:
IWMI-­‐GWP-­‐Updated,
2014
MAP
of
Ban
Ekxang
Wells
and
Watersheds

27. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
27
Collectors
Layout
for
Monitoring
Sprinkler
Spray
Distribu.on

28. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
28
Irriga.on
Layout:
Site
A

29. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
29
Irriga.on
Layout:
Site
B

30. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
30
CROP
GROWTH
&
YIELD

31. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
31
Cost-­‐Benefit
Evalua.on
of
Farming
Produc.vity

32. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
32
CHALLENGES
Ø Cows
threaRng
to
graze
on
the
vegetables
Ø
Increasing
temperature
•
>90°F

33. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
33
NEXT
STEP
Ø
Complete
applying
treatments
at
both
sites.
Ø
Work
with
farmers
on
how
to
collect
and
record
field
data
accurately.
Ø
Implement
the
field
monitoring
plan.

34. 24-­‐Apr-­‐14
34
This
is
a
work
in
progress.
Thank
you!