Algal biochar: effects and applications data

In this study biochar was produced from one freshwater (FW) alga and one saltwater (SW) alga using commercial pyrolysis equipment, and the impact of biochar amendment on plant biomass production was assessed.

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    Data record related to this publication Algal biochar: effects and applications data
    Data Publication title Algal biochar: effects and applications data
  • Description

    In this study biochar was produced from one freshwater (FW) alga and one saltwater (SW) alga using commercial pyrolysis equipment, and the impact of biochar amendment on plant biomass production was assessed.

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    • Descriptor

      Algae represent a promising target for the generation of bioenergy through slow pyrolysis, leading to the production of biochar. This study reports experiments conducted on the production of freshwater and saltwater macroalgal biochar in pilotscale quantities, the physical and chemical characteristics of the biochars, and their impact on plant growth. The biochars are low in carbon (C) content, surface area and cation exchange capacity, while being high in ash and nutrients. Trace element analysis demonstrates that macroalgal biochar produced from unpolluted water does not contain toxic trace elements in excess of levels mandated for unrestricted use as a biosolids amendment to soils. Pot trials conducted using a C and nutrient-poor soil, without and with additional fertilizer, demonstrate dramatic increases between 15 and 32 times, respectively, in plant growth rate for biochar treatments compared with the no biochar controls, with additional smaller increases when fertilizer was added. Pot trials conducted using a relatively fertile agricultural soil showed smaller but significant impacts of biochar amendment over the controls.

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    • Descriptor

      The dataset is in open document spreadsheet (.ods) format.

    • Descriptor type Note
    • Descriptor
    • Descriptor type
  • Data type dataset
  • Keywords
    • green tide algae
    • soil carbon
    • Carbon sequestration
    • Biochar
    • Seaweed
    • Macroalgae
    • Bioremediation
  • Funding source
  • Research grant(s)/Scheme name(s)
  • Research themes
    Tropical Ecosystems, Conservation and Climate Change
    Industries and Economies in the Tropics
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  • Start Date 2011/01/01
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    Data Locations

    Type Location Notes
    Physical Location Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, Queensland, 4870, Australia, Phone (07) 4042 1211 ; (Int) + 61 7 4042 1211, Fax (07) 40421284 ; (Int) + 61 7 4042 1284
    Attachment algal_biochar_growth_trials_summary.ods
    The Data Manager is: Michael Bird
    College or Centre
    Access conditions Open: free access under license
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  • Related publications
      Name Bird, Michael I., Wurster, Christopher M., de Paula Silva, Pedro H., Paul, Nicholas A., and de Nys, Rocky (2012) Algal biochar: effects and applications. GCB Bioenergy, 4 (1). pp. 61-69. ISSN 1757-1707
    • URL http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1757-1707.2011.01109.x
    • Notes
    • Name Bird, Michael I., Wurster, Christopher M., de Paula Silva, Pedro H., Bass, Adrian M., and de Nys, Rocky (2011) Algal biochar – production and properties. Bioresource Technology, 102 (2). 1886-1891. ISSN 1873-2976
    • URL http://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.07.106
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    The data will be licensed under CC BY: Attribution 3.0 AU
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  • Statement of rights in data This dataset is available under the Creative Commons - Attribution Australian licence
  • Data owners
      James Cook University
    Citation Bird, Michael; Wurster, Chris; Paul, Nicholas; de Nys, Rocky (2012): Algal biochar: effects and applications data. James Cook University. https://research.jcu.edu.au/data/published/2dfc1b113c8422e7ba0776e23f3a3b62