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4. Soil Management Considerations
and this increases cover of bare soil and
adds organic material. Bale grazing can be
expensive because to increase organic matter
in the soil, 20-50% of the bale should be left
on the ground. Best practice is to ensure that
the source bales are weed-free.
Compost
Compost additionn improves soil aggregation,
building soil capacity to hold more air,
moisture, and nutrients, and reducing the
potential for erosion. Compost contains all
essential plant nutrients and releases them
slowly—over months or years, unlike synthetic
fertilizers. Finally, compost brings diverse life
to soil, including bacteria, fungi, insects, and
worms
Compost application to rangeland
Usually amendments are used in farm settings,
but over the past decade researchers have
been exploring application of compost to
rangeland, as a way to potentially increase
forage production, soil carbon storage, and
water retention. Several researchers and
organizations are currently studying how
compost applications can affect forage
production and soil health in arid and semi-
arid rangelands in the Southwest.
Note: A high rate of manure and compost
application can cause salt accumulation and
The quality and characteristics of biochar
depend on the substrate pyrolyzed and the
conditions of pyrolysis—temperature and
duration (slow or fast). Biomass composition
and conditions of pyrolysis also drive the
quantity of secondary products produced.
Secondary byproducts are mostly Syngas
(gases) and bio-oil (liquids), which can be
used as sources of energy (for example, they
can be burned to warm poultry houses in
winter). Research is underway on best practices
for use of biochar, but a study on pinto beans
suggested that 5 tons/acre increased nutrient
availability and water holding capacity
(see Keller, 2019 in references).
Glossary
Biochar
black carbon or charcoal, obtained from the
carbonization of biomass though pyrolysis.
Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process in which
biomass is heated in the absence of oxygen,
resulting in char that is primarily stabilized
carbon. In contrast, traditional charcoal
production captures none of the energy or the
pollutants released when biomass is burned,
which causes significant waste and pollution.
Biochar
Photo: John Idowu