Forest fertilization using nutrient-enriched biochar for climate change mitigation effects

Forest fertilization increases the growth rate of forest trees and is seen as an important climate change mitigation measure in Norway. In the past years, Biochar has received a lot of attention as of of the only mature negative emission technologies that can helps us meet the Paris agreement targets. FORBIOCHAR will produce a new type of forest fertilizer (biochar enriched with nitrogen) with a potential double climate change mitigation effect - increased tree growth and increase long-term storage of biochar in forest soil. The project will carry out detailed field assessment of tree alternative treatments (traditional mineral fertilizer, nitrogen-enriched biochar, biochar without nutrients) and document effects on a) tree growth response, b) soil respiration, c) nitrogen uptake by trees, d) nitrogen leakage to ground water. Furthermore, we will carry out novel laboratory tests of biochar stability when exposed to forest ecosystem decomposers (wood-decaying fungi, forest soil decomposer community). Estimate long-term persistence and carbon capture potential of biochar added to forest soils. On the applied side we will carry out life cycle assessments of using waste material from forest operations (GROT) for biochar production and whether this alternative use represents a true climate mitigation measure. Furthermore, scale up results from field and laboratory tests to assess the climate change mitigation potential of biochar at the Norwegian national level.

FORBIOCHAR will produce a new type of forest fertilizer with a potential double climate change mitigation effect. We will test this fertilizer in practical fertilizer treatment (using helicopter dispersal) and compare performance with traditional mineral fertilizer. The project will carry out detailed field assessment of tree alternative treatments (traditional mineral fertilizer, nitrogen-enriched biochar, biochar without nutruients) and document effets on a) tree growth response, b) soil respiration, c) nitrogen uptake by trees, d) nitrogen leakage to ground water. Furthermore, we will carry out novel laboratory tests of biochar stability when exposed to forest ecosystem decomposers (wood-decaying fungi, forest soil decomposer community). Estimate long-term persistance and carbon capture potential of biochar added to forest soils. On the applied side we will carry out life cycle assessments of using waste material from forest operations (GROT) for biochar production and wheter this alternative use represents a true climate mitigation measure. Furthermore, scale up results from field and laboratory tests to assess the climate change mitigation potential of biochar at the Norwegian national level.