Biochar Kiln Demonstration: Buckeye, AZ

LOCATION: Robbins Butte Game Preserve, AZGFD (click for directions).

WORKSHOP GOAL: Raise awareness about biochar and demonstrate biochar production using a flame-cap kiln. Reduce invasive salt cedar (tamarisk).

EVENT DESCRIPTION: Biochar are charcoal particles mixed with soil. Participants will learn about building and using a portable flame cap kiln for demonstrating how to make biochar. Details such as burn permits, fire safety, a water source, and lighting and quenching the fire are discussed. Emerging markets for biochar include: 1) An agricultural and horticultural soil amendment to improve water and nutrient availability; 2) Hazardous fuels reduction in forests and wildland urban interface communities, as well as reduction of yard waste ; 3) Contaminant adsorption for dairies, landfills or mining; 4) Production of bioenergy fuels including syngas and bio-oil; and 5) direct carbon sequestration: the half-life of a biochar molecule is 1,000 years. Benefits and challenges of using biochar are discussed, including: raising awareness about biochar; creating markets; feedstock properties and variability; and matching biochar qualities to specific applications.

AUDIENCE: Hazardous fuel reduction managers and volunteers, gardeners and composters, ranchers, landfill & waste management industry, non-industrial forest lands, state, county, tribal and federal lands, mining companies, turf industry, sawmills, horticulture and agriculture industry.

Selected Extension resources about biochar:

• https://forestry.usu.edu/news/utah-forest-facts/hazardous-fuels-reductio...(link is external)
• https://extension.arizona.edu/pubs/guide-making-using-biochar-gardens-so...