Scaling Up Biochar
Rennes Launches Innovative Turf Experiment
In partnership with Rennes Ville & Métropole, Unilasalle Rennes has launched an experiment to apply biochar to a sports field.
Although the characteristics of biochar are now well known (porosity, adsorption, stability, carbon sequestration), it has not yet been scaled up to a demonstrator in France. The aim of this trial, which started in October, is to validate biochar’s ability to retain water and nutrients to reduce irrigation and limit fertiliser leaching. Another challenge is to integrate biochar without changing practices for the operators of the City of Rennes and the Metropole’s Department of Gardens and Biodiversity, both Unilasalle partners.
The research team at the Cyclann Unit has set up a deployment and monitoring protocol to assess the impact of 2 doses of pure biochar and a mycorrhizal biochar on over 3,000m² of turf for at least 16 months. Hygrometry and permeability will be the key parameters. However, plant cover, soil compaction and the overall appearance of the turf will also be monitored.
This demonstrator is part of the CASCADE project, funded by the European Union’s INTERREG NWE programme. This project aims to establish an integrated system for the management and conversion of biomass into biochar in 7 regions of North West Europe. Unilasalle Rennes is the French partner in this project.