STiR coffee and tea magazine

34 STiR coffee and tea / Issue 5, 2017 (October / November) "In 2012 we successfully adapted the principle of biochar in tea, at our Dilmah conservation sustainable agriculture research center in Moratuwa. We have since then applied biochar across a significant extent of our Kahawatte Plantations with very posi- tive results. The most exciting aspect is that whilst allowing us to progressively eliminate the use of artificial inputs, biochar is also a formidable component of climate resilience whilst also enhancing the quality of the tea." Clearing the kitchen of smoke Dr. R. S. Dharmakeerthi with IBI estimates 80% of Sri Lanka's households still use firewood as their cooking fuel. He explains that the price of LP gas has increased steadily in the last decade, much faster than the rise in prices of other petroleum fuels. To some extent, this sharp increase in the price of LP gas has kept households from switching from cooking over firewood to cooking with LP gas. A more appropriate solution is specially designed biochar stoves, he explains. According to the World Health Organization, indoor air pollution is the fourth worst cause of poor health and avoid- able deaths of women and small children in the least developed societies. Carbon monoxide causes premature and under-weight babies, plus general weakness in adults. Fine particulate matter in the smoke causes lower respiratory diseases that shorten lives, and also contributes to climate change. "When biochar stoves are used instead of the traditional 3-stone stoves and their devia- tions available in the market, biofuel is gasified more efficiently reducing the generation of smoke down to a very low level. This will help to minimize the health problems associated with the smoke in the kitchen," according to Dharmakeerthi. Dr. J.C. Krishnaratne, director of r&d at the Biochar Initia- tive Co., explains that biochar not only enriches the soil, it has the potential to generate wealth for small growers. Writing in the Business Times he calculates a grower using bio- char on three hectares, "based on a guaranteed price of SLRs 5 per kilo, each family could earn an annual income of SLRs 300,000 ($1,975) after the second year from planting." "Many other cascading benefits, including economic and social, have been factored into a program of this nature," he wrote in an article titled: Biochar: Can it put the tea industry back in the black? Black soil The impact from applying biochar varies, according to Mohotti. It will likely take many years to return Sri Lanka's depleted acre- age. He says that testing should continue to determine the best application time, assess long-term impacts, and opportunities to couple the production of biochar with microbial inoculations, biofertilizer applications to insure a favorable return on invest- ments. He cites the following proven benefits: • Soil microbial activity is enhanced • Root rhizosphere is strengthened • Moisture holding capacity of the soil is improved and ni- trogen retention increased. Ultimately you can see the difference. Spreading fertilizer encourages root growth near the surface instead of penetrating deeper down to reach moisture. As top layers dry up during droughts the roots are starved of moisture. Black dirt is a sign of soil health. Using biochar darkens the soil over time. Mohotti says "dark is gold." Restoring soil without chemical fertilizer requires bulky organic soil amendments

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