ARTi Supplied Biochar Reactor at AZL Facility
The Southwest US has been in a major drought since the 1990’s. It makes sense that water has become a hot topic in recent years. Water levels in two major reservoirs have dropped significantly in the last couple years causing states like Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah to cut back on water consumption from farm lands to residential areas. Arizona Log and Timberworks want to promote biochar as a way to reduce the amount of water needs for crops that require more water than others.
The wine and orchard industries have really taken off in Arizona over the past several years. However, due to lower aquifer levels farmers cannot always afford the water or have even been cut off altogether. So there are impacts on water acquisition and use in the Southwest US.
Southwestern agriculture is defined by water scarcity.
More than 92% of the region’s cropland is irrigated and agricultural uses account for 79% of all water withdrawals in the region (USDA 2010). A warmer, drier climate accelerates large transfers of irrigation water to urban areas, which directly affects local agriculture and associated communities
How can biochar help with soil water retention?
Biochar can significantly improve water retention in soils because it improves the soil macropore structure
As much as a 20% increase in soil water retention can be achieved through biochar which means 20,000 gallons for every acre. Biochar improves the macropore structure of soils. Healthy soils with higher organic matter and improved macropore structure will equate to higher water-holding capacity, thus retaining the precipitation where it lands. The majority of Arizona’s southern region is desert, where cotton and lettuce crops thrive. It is no surprise that water efficiency is on people’s minds here.
Every 1% increase in organic matter can result in 20,000 gallons (or more) of available soil water (retention capacity) per acre. Source: USDA, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). This is the equivalent of a 1/2 an inch of rain. Strawberry farmers use 7 ML/ ha of water. Use of biochar can save water.
Biochar has many other soil benefits as well but if it can help with controlling water use then it will have proven its worth. To get the real water benefits from biochar, it needs to be made from the right feedstock and be applied correctly. We intend to do just that.
