Projekt title: „TERRA PRETA” Combined application of biochar and microbial inoculant for deteriorated soils

Funding Programme: Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, Green Industry Innovation Programme

Project Identification Number: HU09-0029-A1-2013

Project duration: 2014. 07. 01 – 2016. 10. 31.

Project type: Consortial

Project partners:

BioFil Microbiological, Biotechnological and Biochemical Ltd (Project Promoter)

Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) (Partner)

Research Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry (RISSAC), HAS (Partner)

Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Donor project partner)

Summary:

The Terra Preta Project aimed at amending acidic sandy soils with biochar and  to apply biochar as carrier of microbial soil inoculum targeting increase in crop yield. BME and RISSAC have studied for several years the potential applicability of wastes for  remediation and amendment of contaminated and degraded soils (SOILUTIL project). Biochar application to soil is considered to be a sustainable and environmentally efficient option. Further to its stable carbon content having positive effects on soil mechanical, geobiochemical and habitat function, biochar has high bioavailable element content supplying the necessary macro- meso- and microelements to the soil.  Biochar offers better environment for the microbial inoculum applied  together with the biochar, so that in some cases one may note clear synergistic effect. The biochars and the amended degraded soils have to be evaluated and combined individually and on a “char on char” basis.        http://enfo.agt.bme.hu/drupal/node/13075