Willingness to Adopt Biochar in Agriculture: The Producer’s Perspective

Most research on biochar has focused either on the mechanistic or the biophysical aspects, and there has been relatively little research into the social applicability and acceptance of biochar as a soil enhancer in agriculture. However, whether to adopt biochar in their practice is ultimately the farmers’ decision, and their willingness to do so is crucial. Here, we show the producer’s perspective on adopting biochar, using Polish farmers as a case study. Poland is an interesting case study because biochar has only recently attracted the attention of researchers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders there. We performed standardized, semi-structured interviews with 161 Polish farmers to evaluate the socioeconomic potential of biochar application in practice. We found that 27% of the respondents claimed to be familiar with biochar. The respondents with a technical, non-agricultural level of education were most familiar with the term ‘biochar’ (36%), followed by the group of respondents with a higher-level agricultural education (31%). It was surprising that among the latter respondents, the majority (69%) did not know the term ‘biochar’, either in the context used for this study or in any other context. Twenty percent of the respondents expressed an interest in using biochar, while 43% were not willing to adopt it in their agricultural practice (37% ‘did not know yet’). If a farmer was familiar with the concept of sustainable agriculture, the probability of familiarity with biochar increased by 16% (p < 0.05). In addition, farmers interested in using biochar indicated that sustainable agriculture might improve the financial situation of their farms (52%). The perceived benefits of biochar that drive the willingness to adopt it included improved soil quality and increased income due to increased yields, while the constraints on its adoption were associated mainly with high costs. Our results also point to the necessity of information flow as well as engaging farmers in participatory research to adjust the research to their needs. Furthermore, our results highlight the importance of transparency with the farmers and appropriate dissemination and presentation of both the positive and the negative aspects of biochar adoption. We urge those studying biochar to engage in more interdisciplinary research and to go beyond laboratory and field research. Many innovations, even those that work, will not be adopted if socioeconomic considerations are not incorporated into the research

A reconnaissance-scale GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis to support sustainable biochar use: Poland as a case study

Although increasing numbers of research papers regarding biochar are being published worldwide, in some countries growing interest in biochar has only recently been observed; this is true of Poland. We analysed information on biochar research in Poland alongside lessons learned elsewhere in order to identify the significant opportunities and risks associated with biochar use. This data fed into a GIS-based multicriteria analysis to identify areas where biochar application could deliver greatest benefit. We found that 21.8% of agricultural land in Poland has at least moderate indication for biochar use (soil organic matter below 2% and pH below 5.5), while 1.5% was categorized as a priority as it also exhibited contamination. Potential barriers identified included biomass availability and associated risks of indirect land-use change due to possible national and transnational biomass production displacement. Biochar use could have positive global consequences as a climate change mitigation strategy, particularly relevant in a country with limited alternatives. Scaling up a mitigation technology that is viable on account of its co-benefits might be cost-effective, which could, in turn, adjust national perspectives and stronger involvement in developing mitigation policies at the regional level. Biochar has much promise in temperate conditions and further research should therefore be assigned to explore biochar’s environmental and socio-economic impacts

Structure and level of investment expenditures and the work efficiency in agricultural activities in the Małopolskie province

The purpose of the study was to determine the scale and importance of the investments in technical production inputs in the form of replacement value of the machine park, made in agricultural activities with regard to improvement of their productivity. The study was carried with regard to the period between 2011-2016. The scope of the thesis referred to 30 individual farms located within the territory of the Małopolskie province. The studies carried out proved a positive impact of the investment expenditures with regard to the replacement value of the machine park on the increase in work efficiency in agriculture

Wpływ obróbki pozbiorowej i przechowywania bulw ziemniaka na akumulację toksycznych związków

Despite a long-term reduction trend, the potato production in Poland compared to EU countries is still very high. Therefore, the aim of the paper was to investigate the impact of mechanical damages and light for various genotypes on glycoalkaloids accumulation. Glycoalkaloids are toxic steroid glycosides that naturally occur in the family of Solanaceae. According to many authors, their presence in plants is related to resistance to a physiological stress inflicted by mechanical damages and infections caused by some microorganisms and insects. The TGA content above 200 mg·kg-1 in a fresh mass of potatoes is an upper limit that guarantees health safety of food. Studies were carried out on 28 potato cultivars divided into 4 groups. The studies that were carried out after harvesting and after 5 months of storage in the experimental storage room in the temperature of 8°C showed an impact of damages and exposition to light of potato tubers on the content of glycoalkaloids.Mimo wieloletniego trendu spadkowego, produkcja ziemniaków w Polsce jest, na tle krajów UE, w dalszym ciągu bardzo wysoka, dlatego celem pracy było zbadanie wpływu uszkodzeń mechanicznych i działania światła dla różnych genotypów na akumulację glikoalkaloidów. Glikoalkaloidy są toksycznymi glikozydami sterydowymi naturalnie występującymi w rodzinie Solanacea. Zdaniem wielu autorów ich obecność w roślinach wiąże się z odpornością na stres fizjologiczny wywołany uszkodzeniami mechanicznymi oraz infekcjami spowodowanymi przez niektóre mikroorganizmy i owady. Zawartość TGA powyżej 200 mg/kg w świeżej masie ziemniaków stanowi górną granicę gwarantującą bezpieczeństwo zdrowotne żywności. Badania przeprowadzono na 28 odmianach ziemniaka podzielonych na 4 grupy. Badania przeprowadzone po zbiorze i po 5 miesiącach przechowywania w przechowalni doświadczalnej w temperaturze 8ºC wykazały wpływ uszkodzeń i ekspozycji na światło bulw ziemniaka na zawartość glikoalkaloidów

Praktyczne możliwości wykorzystania zanieczyszczeń zbożowych w przetwórstwie surowców tłuszczowych i olejowych w przedsiębiorstwach przemysłu olejowo-tłuszczowego

The analysis of statistical data showed that a large amount of plant waste is generated annually in oil and fat production plants, which must be processed and reused. The paper analyzes the problems of reusing sunflower oil production waste, which is characterized by a relatively high energy value: 1 ton of plant waste is equivalent to 0.625 tons of conventional fuel. According to the mathematical estimation, the actual total amount of impurities is 7.29%, in which major impurities constitute 25.7%. Studies have shown a high probability of oil - containing impurities - 37.25%. Therefore, it is recommended to process such impurities into fuel briquettes and technical oil to increase the profitability of sunflower oil production. For example, at the annual load of technological equipment of the Melitopol Oil Extraction Plant, in 250 days, at a daily processing capacity of 550 t day-1, an annual profit of 560,000 EUR is obtainable from the sunflower grain impurities processed into fuel and technical oil.Analiza danych statystycznych wykazała, że w przedsiębiorstwach przemysłu olejowo-tłuszczowego corocznie powstaje duża ilość odpadów roślinnych, co wymaga ich przetworzenia i wykorzystania. Cechą tego typu odpadów jest stosunkowo wysoka wartość energetyczna, dzięki czemu 1 tona odpadów roślinnych odpowiada 0,625 tony konwencjonalnego paliwa. Zgodnie z oczekiwaniem matematycznym rzeczywista całkowita ilość zanieczyszczeń wynosi 7,29%, z czego obecność dużych zanieczyszczeń wynosi 25,7%. Jako część całkowitej ilości zanieczyszczeń, matematyczne oczekiwanie zawartości oleju w zanieczyszczeniach wynosi 37,25%. Dlatego wskazane jest przerabianie takich zanieczyszczeń zbożowych na paliwa i olej techniczny. Badania wykazały, że przy rocznym obciążeniu urządzeń technologicznych Wytwórni Oleju Melitopol w ciągu 250 dni przy dobowym przerobie oleju słonecznikowego 550 t doba-1 możliwe jest uzyskanie rocznego zysku z przerobu zanieczyszczeń zbożowych na paliwo i techniczne olej w ilości 560 000 EUR