An Innovative Agro-Forestry Supply Chain for Residual Biomass: Physicochemical Characterisation of Biochar from Olive and Hazelnut Pellets

Ilaria Zambon, Fabrizio Colosimo, Danilo Monarca, Massimo Cecchini, Francesco Gallucci, Andrea Rosario Proto, Richard Lord and Andrea Colantoni
Additional contact information
Ilaria Zambon: Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), Tuscia University, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, Viterbo 01100, Italy
Fabrizio Colosimo: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 75 Montrose Street, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UK
Danilo Monarca: Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), Tuscia University, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, Viterbo 01100, Italy
Massimo Cecchini: Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), Tuscia University, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, Viterbo 01100, Italy
Francesco Gallucci: Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis (CREA) Research Unit for Agricultural Engineering, Via della Pascolare 16, Monterotondo, Rome 00015, Italy
Andrea Rosario Proto: Department of Agriculture, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Feo di Vito, Reggio Calabria 89122, Italy
Richard Lord: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 75 Montrose Street, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UK
Andrea Colantoni: Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE), Tuscia University, Via San Camillo de Lellis snc, Viterbo 01100, Italy

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: Concerns about climate change and food productivity have spurred interest in biochar, a form of charred organic material typically used in agriculture to improve soil productivity and as a means of carbon sequestration. An innovative approach in agriculture is the use of agro-forestry waste for the production of soil fertilisers for agricultural purposes and as a source of energy. A common agricultural practice is to burn crop residues in the field to produce ashes that can be used as soil fertilisers. This approach is able to supply plants with certain nutrients, such as Ca, K, Mg, Na, B, S, and Mo. However, the low concentration of N and P in the ashes, together with the occasional presence of heavy metals (Ni, Pb, Cd, Se, Al, etc.), has a negative effect on soil and, therefore, crop productivity. This work describes the opportunity to create an innovative supply chain from agricultural waste biomass. Olive ( Olea europaea ) and hazelnut ( Corylus avellana ) pruning residues represent a major component of biomass waste in the area of Viterbo (Italy). In this study, we evaluated the production of biochar from these residues. Furthermore, a physicochemical characterisation of the produced biochar was performed to assess the quality of the two biochars according to the standards of the European Biochar Certificate (EBC). The results of this study indicate the cost-effective production of high-quality biochar from olive and hazelnut biomass residues.

Keywords: biochar; biomass; soil fertiliser; olive; hazelnut (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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