Document Type

Honors Thesis

Publication Date

Spring 5-8-2026

Abstract

Biochar, as a technology, has and continues to be evaluated for a wide variety of purposes including drinking water treatment of heavy metals and air filtration for harmful contaminants. When evaluating the logging industry, a problem has emerged around residual wood waste (slash piles) in the field that biochar production may be able to address. Additionally, agriculture has begun to look for alternatives to nitrate heavy fertilizers that can cause eutrophication in waterways that biochar has the potential to address. In this study, the effect of biochar addition was assessed in agricultural fields with tight margin alfalfa/grass hay crops to determine benefit compared to cost. All significant components from 8 different fields were tested at the greenhouse scale with biochar added by weight for a period of 35 days to determine the effect on plant production, height, cover, and change in soil pH compared to control. To look at the economic value of biochar, net present value analysis was conducted looking at 5 different scenarios to determine where biochar may provide highest value to the landowner. Biochar showed improvements in 5 of 7 soils with increases in plant production by dry mass weight, and pH change over the 35-day growth period being the most prominent values. As interest in carbon sequestration grows in Montana and the rest of the United States, and the need for alternatives to traditional agricultural amendments deepens, biochar can provide a potential valuable choice that addresses both issues.

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