Biochar for Fuels Reduction
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Use biochar burning practices to keep smoke out of the atmosphere when burning forest residue/slash
Conventional Burn vs. Biochar Burn (flame carbonization)
Conventional: Flame burns UNDER cold biomass creating smoke
Biochar Burn: A TOP-LIT fire - The flame on top burns any smoke from the fuels below
Three Requirements of Flame Carbonization:
1. Fast, hot, and clean fire with dry fuels < 14% moisture
2. Flames on top of the pile to burn the smoke
3. Quench the fire before the char burns to ash
Multiple Benefits of Biochar:
Sequesters carbon in soil
Reduces hazardous fuels with very little smoke
Promotes soil microbial life
Increases plant growth
Has disease suppressive effects
Creates value from trash (biochar from waste wood)
Prevents nutrient loss
Biochar for Restoration - Paper by Kelpie Wilson, Wilson Biochar Associates, for South Umpqua Rural Community Partnership
Converting Shelterbelt Biomass to Biochar - Kelpie Wilson, A Feasibility Analysis for North Dakota Forest Service
Learning to Burn and Make Biochar - Not Smoke - Article by Kelpie Wilson in Tree Care Industry Magazine
Smoke into Biochar - DIY biochar flyer from Wilson Biochar Associates
Presentation: Flame Carbonizers for Biochar - Kelpie Wilson
