Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District (CSWCD) in Minnesota recently announced a new project trialing the application of biochar with a USDA Forest Service Wood Innovation grant. Brad Matlack, District Manager of CSWCD is a dedicated conservationist with over two decades of experience under his belt. Over the last several years, he’s spearheaded a movement that’s turning biomass waste into a valuable resource and improving soil health through biochar.

Biochar, a stable carbon-rich solid, is derived from organic waste material or biomass that undergoes partial combustion with limited oxygen. Biochar has served as a soil amendment for years and more recently, foresters and agricultural producers have taken an interest in its properties and potential benefits. The characteristics of biochar vary depending on its source material and the temperature at which it’s produced. As a soil amendment, biochar can be utilized independently or mixed with other soil amendments to tackle a wide range of environmental, agricultural, and forestry challenges.

Carlton SWCD covers an area where more than 50% of the land base is forested, making forest conservation a top priority. Collaborating extensively with forest landowners, Brad noticed a common challenge-the substantial amount of low-quality biomass left after conservation practices. This waste material posed a significant hurdle to effective land management. By utilizing that biomass to create biochar, a challenge becomes an opportunity to improve soil health and repurpose biomass without simply burning it. To create high-quality biochar, the process demands heating at around 1,000 degrees Celsius. This approach allows for the utilization of pest-infested wood, invasive species like buckthorn, and even diseased trees transforming otherwise wasted biomass into a soil amendment.

Through the Wood Innovations grant with Dovetail Partners and Minnesota Power, the Northern Minnesota Closed Cycle Biochar Pilot will work to showcase the soil health benefits of biochar application. The project will compare biochar application methods while comparing biochar from commercial and smaller-scale production methods. The project’s at-scale demonstration will lay the foundation for a circular economy in northern Minnesota which can create a sustainable, long-term outlet for wildfire fuels in the Superior National Forest region.

Brad’s advice to other districts interested in similar work, “Go for it!” He’s convinced that the potential applications of biochar and other conservation practices are boundless. What lies ahead excites Brad the most. He aims to fill a gap in the existing research—a scarcity of field-level demonstrations that showcase biochar’s impact on a larger scale. Soil health benefits are well-documented on smaller plots, but there’s less data on larger application. Though biochar amendments are not yet a paid practice in Minnesota through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), they are gaining traction in the state. CSWCD’s work paves the way for wider recognition and implementation of this innovative conservation tool and continues to position the district for partnership growth and landowner engagement.

To learn more about CSWCD’s programming and access the variety of resources they’ve created (including a podcast!) please visit their website.

Tags: Forestry, BIOCHAR