Biochar Atlas
American Biochar Institute
Case Studies

How are people making and using biochar?

10 field trials, demonstrations, and on-farm projects from across the U.S. Real outcomes, real systems, real numbers — drawn from USDA ARS, OSU Extension, and ABI partners.

Featured

Gasifying Grass Residues for Energy and Biochar

Farm Power — Spokane, WA
Crop
Winter wheat
Feedstock
Grass seed residue
Rate
5 t/ac
Duration
3 years
Location
Spokane, WA

On-farm gasification produced electricity and biochar simultaneously; the resulting char was field-applied to a winter wheat rotation in the intermediate-precipitation zone of the Palouse.

Outcomes
  • Yield uplift in dry years
  • Co-product revenue from electricity offset biochar production cost
  • No measurable difference in disease pressure
Source: USDA ARS / PNW Biochar Atlas case-study series
More case studies

  1. Improving Soil Health in Dryland Wheat Production

    Four-year field trial — Pendleton, OR

    Biochar field trial in the intermediate-precipitation Palouse compared bulk-applied biochar to compost amendments and standard practice across four seasons.
    SystemWinter wheat / fallow
    FeedstockMixed forest residue
    Rate4 t/ac · 4y
    LocationPendleton, OR
    SourceUSDA ARS Pendleton

  2. Biochar for Dry Farming

    OSU vegetable demonstration — Corvallis, OR

    Demonstration of biochar-amended beds under dry-farming practice in the Willamette Valley, evaluating water-holding capacity and crop response without irrigation.
    SystemDry-farmed vegetables
    FeedstockMixed orchard prunings
    Rate6 t/ac · 2y
    LocationCorvallis, OR
    SourceOregon State University Extension

  3. Pairing Juniper Removal with Rangeland Restoration

    Greenhouse + field — Mitchell, OR

    Combined greenhouse and field study evaluating whether juniper biochar from rangeland-removal operations could offset restoration costs and support reseeding.
    SystemRangeland restoration
    FeedstockWestern juniper
    Rate3 t/ac · 2y
    LocationMitchell, OR
    SourceUSDA ARS / OSU

  4. Reducing Pesticide Residues in Wine

    Vineyard biochar trial — Willamette + Rogue Valleys

    Research evaluating effects of biochar amendments on vineyard soils, wine sensory quality, and glyphosate residues in finished wine.
    SystemWine grape
    FeedstockPine bark
    Rate4 t/ac · 3y
    LocationWillamette + Rogue Valleys, OR
    SourceOregon State University

  5. Biochar in Continuous Corn

    Multi-year field trial — Ames, IA

    Five-year trial evaluating crop-residue biochar in continuous corn on Mollisols, with focus on nitrogen dynamics and OM build.
    SystemCorn (continuous)
    FeedstockCorn stover
    Rate5 t/ac · 5y
    LocationAmes, IA
    SourceUSDA ARS Ames

  6. Acidic Biochar for Blueberries

    OSU graduate research — Corvallis + Aurora, OR

    Graduate research developing an acidic biochar amendment suitable for blueberries' pH 4.5-5.5 requirement.
    SystemBlueberry
    FeedstockAcid-treated wood biochar
    Rate8 t/ac · 3y
    LocationCorvallis + Aurora, OR
    SourceOregon State University

  7. Poultry-Litter Biochar in Pasture

    Co-composted pasture trial — Harrisonburg, VA

    Pasture demonstration evaluating poultry-litter biochar (co-composted with manure) to improve forage productivity and reduce nutrient runoff.
    SystemCool-season pasture
    FeedstockPoultry litter
    Rate4 t/ac · 2y
    LocationHarrisonburg, VA
    SourceUSDA NRCS Virginia

  8. Almond Shell Biochar in Almond Orchard

    Closed-loop trial — Modesto, CA

    Almond growers in Modesto piloted a closed-loop trial where shells from their own operation were pyrolyzed and returned to the orchard floor.
    SystemAlmond orchard
    FeedstockAlmond shells (closed-loop)
    Rate6 t/ac · 4y
    LocationModesto, CA
    SourceABI / industry collaboration

  9. Rice Hull Biochar in Mississippi Delta

    Rice-soybean rotation — Stuttgart, AR

    Rice hull biochar applied to heavy clay rice ground evaluated for aggregation and methane emissions across a rice-soybean rotation.
    SystemRice / soybean
    FeedstockRice hulls
    Rate4 t/ac · 3y
    LocationStuttgart, AR
    SourceUSDA ARS Stuttgart

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