Economic feasibility of biochar and agriculture coproduction from Canadian black spruce forest
Abstract This study calculates the economic feasibility of converting biomass from black spruce forests into biochar and using it as soil amendment to grow potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) and beets (Beta vulgaris L.) to improve food availability in one of Canada's most consistently food insecur...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:9752e005d1794148a8a6d1b5c3a83a04 2023-05-15T17:22:53+02:00 Economic feasibility of biochar and agriculture coproduction from Canadian black spruce forest Catherine Keske Todd Godfrey Dana L.K. Hoag Joinal Abedin 2020-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.188 https://doaj.org/article/9752e005d1794148a8a6d1b5c3a83a04 EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.188 https://doaj.org/toc/2048-3694 2048-3694 doi:10.1002/fes3.188 https://doaj.org/article/9752e005d1794148a8a6d1b5c3a83a04 Food and Energy Security, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp n/a-n/a (2020) agriculture biochar food security Muskrat Falls Newfoundland and Labrador techno‐economic analysis S Agriculture (General) S1-972 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.188 2022-12-31T15:58:59Z Abstract This study calculates the economic feasibility of converting biomass from black spruce forests into biochar and using it as soil amendment to grow potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) and beets (Beta vulgaris L.) to improve food availability in one of Canada's most consistently food insecure provinces. The trees were clear cut for the construction of the controversial Muskrat Falls hydroelectric dam and have been left to decay due to a lack of economically feasible processing options. A stochastic analysis conducted on a biochar production budget of a slow pyrolysis mobile biochar unit reveals fixed and variable cost estimates of $505.14 Mg−1 and $499.13 Mg−1, respectively. Applying the biochar as a soil amendment for local beet or potato production makes the biochar venture profitable. Beet field trial data from the study region using 10 t C biochar application rates increases beet yield from 2.9 Mg/ha to 11.4 Mg/ha with a midline increase of 5.59 Mg/ha. A stochastic analysis with variable prices and yields shows a 0.99 probability of biochar production being profitable when applied to beets at the midline production rate, with an average annualized net return over variable costs of $4,953 ha−1, and maximum annualized net return of $11,288 ha−1, over variable costs. Potato production yields average annualized net returns of $965.48 ha−1 over variable costs, but with much more downside risk, considering the minimum annualized net return of −$318.82 ha−1 over variable costs. Biochar application covers average total costs for beets but not potatoes. Using biochar from forest biomass as a soil amendment presents an opportunity to create a local market for biochar in a remote area of Canada, where biochar may be used as an experimental soil amendment to improve food security. Article in Journal/Newspaper Newfoundland Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Canada Newfoundland Food and Energy Security 9 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
agriculture biochar food security Muskrat Falls Newfoundland and Labrador techno‐economic analysis S Agriculture (General) S1-972 |
spellingShingle |
agriculture biochar food security Muskrat Falls Newfoundland and Labrador techno‐economic analysis S Agriculture (General) S1-972 Catherine Keske Todd Godfrey Dana L.K. Hoag Joinal Abedin Economic feasibility of biochar and agriculture coproduction from Canadian black spruce forest |
topic_facet |
agriculture biochar food security Muskrat Falls Newfoundland and Labrador techno‐economic analysis S Agriculture (General) S1-972 |
description |
Abstract This study calculates the economic feasibility of converting biomass from black spruce forests into biochar and using it as soil amendment to grow potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) and beets (Beta vulgaris L.) to improve food availability in one of Canada's most consistently food insecure provinces. The trees were clear cut for the construction of the controversial Muskrat Falls hydroelectric dam and have been left to decay due to a lack of economically feasible processing options. A stochastic analysis conducted on a biochar production budget of a slow pyrolysis mobile biochar unit reveals fixed and variable cost estimates of $505.14 Mg−1 and $499.13 Mg−1, respectively. Applying the biochar as a soil amendment for local beet or potato production makes the biochar venture profitable. Beet field trial data from the study region using 10 t C biochar application rates increases beet yield from 2.9 Mg/ha to 11.4 Mg/ha with a midline increase of 5.59 Mg/ha. A stochastic analysis with variable prices and yields shows a 0.99 probability of biochar production being profitable when applied to beets at the midline production rate, with an average annualized net return over variable costs of $4,953 ha−1, and maximum annualized net return of $11,288 ha−1, over variable costs. Potato production yields average annualized net returns of $965.48 ha−1 over variable costs, but with much more downside risk, considering the minimum annualized net return of −$318.82 ha−1 over variable costs. Biochar application covers average total costs for beets but not potatoes. Using biochar from forest biomass as a soil amendment presents an opportunity to create a local market for biochar in a remote area of Canada, where biochar may be used as an experimental soil amendment to improve food security. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Catherine Keske Todd Godfrey Dana L.K. Hoag Joinal Abedin |
author_facet |
Catherine Keske Todd Godfrey Dana L.K. Hoag Joinal Abedin |
author_sort |
Catherine Keske |
title |
Economic feasibility of biochar and agriculture coproduction from Canadian black spruce forest |
title_short |
Economic feasibility of biochar and agriculture coproduction from Canadian black spruce forest |
title_full |
Economic feasibility of biochar and agriculture coproduction from Canadian black spruce forest |
title_fullStr |
Economic feasibility of biochar and agriculture coproduction from Canadian black spruce forest |
title_full_unstemmed |
Economic feasibility of biochar and agriculture coproduction from Canadian black spruce forest |
title_sort |
economic feasibility of biochar and agriculture coproduction from canadian black spruce forest |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.188 https://doaj.org/article/9752e005d1794148a8a6d1b5c3a83a04 |
geographic |
Canada Newfoundland |
geographic_facet |
Canada Newfoundland |
genre |
Newfoundland |
genre_facet |
Newfoundland |
op_source |
Food and Energy Security, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp n/a-n/a (2020) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.188 https://doaj.org/toc/2048-3694 2048-3694 doi:10.1002/fes3.188 https://doaj.org/article/9752e005d1794148a8a6d1b5c3a83a04 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.188 |
container_title |
Food and Energy Security |
container_volume |
9 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1766109801175056384 |