Biochar Kiln Demonstration: Fort Valley Experimental Forest Headquarters, Flagstaff, AZ

LOCATION: Fort Valley Experimental Forest Headquarters, 5735 W Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

WORKSHOP GOAL: Raise awareness about biochar and demonstrate biochar production using a flame-cap kiln.

EVENT DESCRIPTION: Biochar are charcoal particles mixed with soil. Participants will learn about building and using a portable flame cap kiln for making biochar. Details such as burn permits, fire safety, water source, and lighting and quenching the fire are discussed. Benefits and challenges of using biochar include: raising awareness about biochar; creating markets; feedstock properties and variability; and matching biochar qualities to specific applications. Uses for biochar include:

• Hazardous fuels reduction in forests and wildland urban interface communities, and yard waste;
• A soil amendment that improves soil moisture and nutrient availability;
• Contaminant adsorption for dairies, landfills or mining reclamation;
• Production of bioenergy including syngas and bio-oil; and
• Carbon sequestration: biochar persists in soil for hundreds of years.

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

PRESENTER: Chris Jones, Extension Agent University of Arizona Gila County Cooperative Extension 5515 S Apache Avenue, Suite 600 Globe, AZ 85501 Phone: (928) 402-8586 Email: ckjones@email.arizona.edu

In partnership and with special thanks to: USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station and NAU Ecological Restoration Institute Flagstaff, AZ