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Restoring Forest and Soil Health using Biochar on the Stanislaus National Forest

In response to drought and beetle epidemics in California, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service wanted to use dead trees to create biochar that could be used to increase soil and forest health while simultaneously protecting local communities. Biochar was created in summer 2017 and study plots were installed in fall 2017.  This site will continue through stand rotation (~70 years)

 

  • The goal of the project is to remove dead timber in the wildlandurban interface, add biochar to the soil to improve soil and forest health, and demonstrate how biochar can be beneficial on forest sites.
  • The key project deliverables include a greater awareness of the value of biochar on forest, range, mine, or agricultural soils for mitigating climate change and restoring soil or ecosystem health.

Lead Agency and Partners

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (National Forest Systems (NFS), State and Private Forestry (S&PF), and Research and Development (R&D)) is the lead agency in this effort. Although this was primarily installed by one agency, each branch of the Forest contributed to the success.  NFS provided timber sale administration and logistics of moving the wood, S&PF helped with contacts to Phoenix Energy (another partner) to make the biochar, and R&D installed the study plots and collected the data.  Other partners are the University of Idaho (responsible for insect monitoring), Oklahoma State University (responsible for assessing changes in termite prevalence) and Michigan Technological University (responsible for assessing belowground process changes) 

Although the Forest Service did the heavy lifting on making and spreading biochar, we couldn’t have completed the work without the help of Phoenix Energy and their willingness to help us make biochar.  Furthermore, all three universities have helped in post-treatment assessments that will help ensure we understand the value of biochar additions to forest soils.

 

Understanding the use of biochar in forest ecosystems

  • The Stanislaus National Forest help public comment periods for the communities of Arnold and Longmont to provide input before timber harvesting.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service provided funding for the project.

 

Engagement Process

This was a Forest Service led project and aside from the usual pre-harvest public comment period with the public, there was no active stakeholder engagement before the biochar application.  However, one year after application (2019), the Forest Service, University of Idaho, Oklahoma State University, and Michigan Technological University help a field day for all the local stakeholders to attend.  We hosted approximately 35 people who were treated to the latest information on our findings about wood decomposition, insect and termite movement, and tree regeneration within the study site.  

 

Climate Impact Area

  • This project responded to climate impacts, including drought, by sequestering carbon belowground, reducing soil greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing slash pile burning.
  • Biochar has been shown to increase soil water holding capacity on forest sites approximately 45 years after application.  This increased soil water should help reduce the impacts of a future drought, reduce runoff, and help keep understory vegetation greener in the growing season.  These things combined also help protect nearby communities. 
  • The project does not specifically include a greenhouse gas reduction component.  Our data can be used to estimate carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions through the COMETPlanner.  This planner does not include a high C soil amendment.  Biochar may not change carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide soil emissions, but methane emissions could be reduced by 50%.  With the addition of 64 tons biochar to the site, we have effectively sequestered 80% (51.2 tons) of carbon.

 

Funding Source

  • This project was funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service for ~$450,000

 

Research and Data

We are committed to measuring soil temperature and moisture every 4 hours for the next 5 years, tracking insect and termite movement across the site, measuring vegetation response, and determining how biochar alters belowground carbon. Our data can be used to estimate carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions through the COMET-Planner.  This planner does not include a high Carbon soil amendment.  Biochar may not change carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide soil emissions, but methane emissions efflux could be reduced by 50%.  With the addition of 64 tons biochar to the site, we have effectively sequestered 80% (51.2 tons) of Carbon.

 

 

Challenges

Moving woody biomass to Merced (Phoenix Energy) and returning with biochar was logistically challenging.  To overcome these challenges, we used round trips.  Trucks left with woody biomass and returned with biochar, then were reloaded for a return to Phoenix Energy.

 

Outcomes

  • Long term outcomes of this project include longterm data on the ecosystem value of applying biochar to forest sites.  Results will be conveyed to land managers, public, and the scientific community through workshops, regional meetings, and publications.
  • Our next steps are to expand biochar markets within the western U.S.  National Forests have an overabundance of woody biomass from thinning and harvest operations that can be used for biochar, rather than slash pile burning.  This biochar can be used onsite, mixed with compost or biosolids and sold for gardens or farms, and used on high value crops to reduce irrigation and fertilization.

 

Replicability

  • This entire study could be replicated in other communities with dead timber nearby. Although this study site is on National Forest lands, the data collected is applicable to many other ponderosa pine sites across the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  The Lakemont Salvage logging area is within the highest priority level to reduce wildfire threat to communities and ecosystem services. 

 

Additional Resources

Check this link to find out more about the use of biochar as a soil amendment: https://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/people/ddumroese

Check this link to find out about harvest operation, economics, woody biomass products, and biochar application: http:www.wastetowisdom.com 

Further Information

Who can be reached to ask more questions about this project?

    • Name: Deborah S. Page-Dumroese, Research Soil Scientist, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Moscow, ID
    • Number and/or email: debbie.dumroese@usda.gov