From rhetoric to reality: Farmer perspectives on the economic potential of biochar in China

International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

Volumn 12, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 440-458

  Clare, Abbie ^a   Barnes, Andrew ^b   McDonagh, John ^c   Shackley, Simon ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH   (United Kingdom)

^b SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE   (United Kingdom)

^c UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

agriculture; Asia; biochar; biomass; China; economics

Indexed keywords

CARBON SEQUESTRATION; CHARCOAL; CROP PRODUCTION; CROP YIELD; FARMERS ATTITUDE; FARMING SYSTEM; MICROECONOMICS; SOIL AMENDMENT; SUSTAINABILITY;

CHINA;

EID: 84902706522     PISSN: 14735903     EISSN: 1747762X     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/14735903.2014.927711     Document Type: Article

References (48)

1. Alwang, J. and Siegel, P., 1999. Labor shortages on small landholdings in Malawi: implications for policy reforms. World development, 27 (8), 1461-1475. doi:10.1016/S0305-750X(99)00065-0
2. Bender, D.A. and McCarl, B.A., 1992. Energy crop selection using linear programming. In: R.M. Peart, ed. Analysis of agricultural energy systems. New York: Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, 57-82.
3. Biederman, L. and Harpole, W.S., 2013. Biochar and its effects on plant productivity and nutrient cycling: A meta-analysis. GCB bioenergy, 5 (2), 202-214. doi:10.1111/gcbb.12037
4. Biggs, S.D., 1990. Agricultural source of innovation and technology model of promotion. World development, 18 (11), 1481-1499.
5. Bridgwater, A.V., 2009. Technical and economic assessment of thermal processes for biofuels. Life Cycle and Techno-Economic Assessment of the Northeast Biomass to Liquids Project. NNFCC project 8.
6. Brown, T.R., Wright, M.M., and Brown, R.C., 2010. Estimating profitability of two biochar production scenarios: slow pyrolysis vs fast pyrolysis. Society of chemical industry, 5 (1), 54-68. doi:10.1002/bbb
7. Carter, S. and Shackley, S., 2011. Biochar Stoves: An innovation studies perspective. UK Biochar Research Centre, University of Edinburgh. Available from: Http://www.sages.ac.uk/home/homes/sshackle/BiocharStovesInnovation.pdf
8. Chan, K. and Xu, Z., 2009. Biochar-nutrient properties and their enhancement. In: J. Lehmann and S. Joseph eds. Biochar for environmental management: science and technology. London, UK: Earthscan, 67-84.
9. Cross, A. and Sohi, S.P., 2011. The priming potential of biochar products in relation to labile carbon contents and soil organic matter status. Soil biology and biochemistry, 43 (10), 2127-2134. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.06.016
10. Ding, C., 2008. Land policy reform in China: Assessment and prospects. Land use policy, 20, 109-120.
11. Edward-Jones, G., 2006. Modelling farmer decision-making: Concepts, progress and challenges. Animal science, 82, 783-790.
12. Ernsting, A. and Smolker, R., 2009. Biochar for climate change mitigation: Fact or fiction. Available from: Http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/category/reports/biochar/page/2/
13. Fan, S. and Chan-Kang, C., 2005. Is small beautiful? Farm size, productivity, and poverty in Asian agriculture. Agricultural economics, 32 (s1), 135-146. doi:10.1111/j.0169-5150.2004.00019.x
14. Gale, F., Lohmar, B., and Tuan, F. (2005). China's New Farm Subsidies. Economic Research Service/USDA, WRS-05-01. Available from: www.ers.usda.gov
15. Hu, Z. and Zhang, D., 2006. China: Country pasture/forage resource profiles. Available from: Http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/counprof/PDFfiles/China.pdf
16. Huang, J., Qiao, F., and Zhang, L., 2000. Farm pesticide, rice production, and human health. Research Reports. Available from: Http://ideas.repec.org/p/eep/report/rr2000051.html
17. Huang, J., et al., 2008. Training programs and in-the-field guidance to reduce China's overuse of fertilizer without hurting profitability. Journal of soil and water conservation, 63 (5), 163-165.
18. Huang, J., Wang, X., and Qiu, H., 2012. Small-scale farmers in China in the face of modernisation and globalisation. Report produced for IIED & Hivos. Available from: Https://www.hivos.nl/dut../content/download/80109/693792/file/chinapaper.pdf
19. International Biochar Initiative, 2013a. Using improved cookstoves and biochar in Western Kenya. Available from: Http://www.biochar-international.org/profile/ACON/Kenya [Accessed 8 October, 2013].
20. International Biochar Initiative, 2013b. North Vietnam villages lead the way in the use of Biochar; building on an indigenous knowledge base. Available from: Http://www.biochar-international.org/profile/Stoves_in_Vietnam [Accessed 8 October 2013].
21. Jeffery, S., et al., 2011. A quantitative review of the effects of biochar application to soils on crop productivity using meta-analysis. Agriculture, ecosystems & environment, 144 (1), 175-187. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2011.08.015
22. Joseph, S., et al., 2013. Shifting paradigms on Biochar: micro/nano-structures and soluble components are responsible for its plant growth promoting ability. Carbon management, 4 (3), 323-343.
23. Kimetu, J.M., et al., 2008. Reversibility of soil productivity decline with organic matter of differing quality along a degradation gradient. Ecosystems, 11 (5), 726-739. doi:10.1007/s10021-008-9154-z
24. Leach, M., Fairhead, J., and Fraser, J., 2012. Journal of peasant studies green grabs and biochar: revaluing African soils and farming in the new carbon economy carbon economy. Journal of peasant studies, 39 (2), 37-41.
25. Liu, X., et al., 2013. Biochar's effect on crop productivity and the dependence on experimental conditions - a meta-analysis of literature data. Plant and soil, 373, 583-594.
26. Major, J., et al., 2010. Maize yield and nutrition during 4 years after biochar application to a Colombian savanna oxisol. Plant and soil, 333 (1-2), 117-128. doi:10.1007/s11104-010-0327-0
27. Monbiot, G., 2009. Woodchips with everything. It's the Atkins plan of the low-carbon world. The Guardian. Available from: Http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/mar/24/george-monbiot-climate-change-biochar
28. Muldavin, J.S., 1997. Degradation in Heilongjiang: policy reform and Agrarian Dynamics in China's New Hybrid Economy. Annals of the association of American geographers, 87 (4), 579-613.
29. National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2003. China's statistical yearbook. Beijing: China Statistics Press.
30. Ndameu, B. and Biofuelwatch, 2011. Biochar fund trials in Cameroon: Hype and unfulfilled promises (pp. 1-26). Available from: Http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Biochar-Cameroon-report1.pdf
31. Pratt, K. and Moran, D., 2010. Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of global biochar mitigation potential. Biomass and bioenergy, 34 (8), 1149-1158. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.03.004
32. Roberts, K.G., et al., 2010. Life cycle assessment of biochar systems: estimating the energetic, economic, and climate change potential. Environmental science & technology, 44 (2), 827-33. doi:10.1021/es902266r
33. Shackley, S., et al., 2011. The feasibility and costs of biochar deployment in the UK. Carbon management, 2 (3), 335-356. doi:10.4155/cmt.11.22
34. Siegel, P.B. and Alwang, J., 2005. Poverty reducing potential of smallholder agriculture in Zambia: Opportunities and constraints. Africa Region, Working Paper Series No.85.
35. Sohi, S., et al., 2009. Biochar, climate change and soil: A review to guide future research. CSIRO Land and Water Science Report, 5.09, 17-31.
36. Sun, Z. and Sun, Y., 2006. Situation and development of agricultural residues as energy resource utilization in rural areas in China. Review of china agricultural science and technology, 8 (1), 6-13.
37. Thompson, J. and Scoones, I., 2009. Addressing the dynamics of agri-food systems: An emerging agenda for social science research. Environmental science & policy, 12 (4), 386-397. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2009.03.001
38. Vanclay, F., 2004. Social principles for agricultural extension to assist in the promotion of natural resource management. Australian journal of experimental agriculture, 44 (3), 213-222.
39. Van Zwieten, L., et al., 2010. A glasshouse study on the interaction of low mineral ash biochar with nitrogen in a sandy soil. Australian journal of soil research, 48 (7), 569-576. doi:10.1071/SR10003
40. Wang, J., et al., 2012a. Effects of biochar amendment in two soils on greenhouse gas emissions and crop production. Plant and soil, 360 (1-2), 287-298. doi:10.1007/s11104-012-1250-3
41. Wang, Z., et al., 2012b. Assessment and utilisation of agricultural residue resources in Henan Province, China. bioresources.com, 7 (3), 3847-3861.
42. Whitman, T., et al., 2011. Climate change impact of biochar cook stoves in western Kenyan farm households: system dynamics model analysis. Environmental science & technology, 45 (8), 3687-94. doi:10.1021/es103301 k
43. Yuan, X. and Zuo, J., 2011. Transition to low carbon energy policies in China - from the five-year plan perspective. Energy policy, 39 (6), 3855-3859. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2011.04.017
44. Zhang, F. and Zhu, Z., 1990. Harvest indices of Chinese crops. Scientis agricultura sinica (in Chinese), 23 (2), 83-87.
45. Zhang, A., et al., 2010. Effect of biochar amendment on yield and methane and nitrous oxide emissions from a rice paddy from Tai Lake plain, China. Agriculture, ecosystems & environment, 139 (4), 469-475. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2010.09.003
46. Zhang, A., et al. 2012. Effects of biochar amendment on soil quality, crop yield and greenhouse gas emission in a Chinese rice paddy: A field study of 2 consecutive rice growing cycles. Field crops research, 127, 153-160. doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2011.11.020
47. Zhang, W.-F., et al. 2013. New technologies reduce greenhouse gas emissions from nitrogenous fertilizer in China. Proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the United States of America. doi:10.1073/pnas.1210447110
48. Zhao, J., Zhang, G., and Yang, D., 2011. Estimation of carbon emission from burning of grain crop residues in China. Journal of agro-environment science (in Chinese), 30 (4), 812-816.