Lake sediments as fertilisers: plant nutrient uptake analysed with brand-new ICP device

 This week we finished data collection phase to our sediment recycling experiment. The greenhouse experiment was harvested in spring 2022 (see more of the background here: http://biochar-hy.blogspot.com/2021/12/our-greenhouse-experiment-on-lake.html), then the plant samples were ground and nutrients extracted from them. In September-October we developed analysis methods for multi-element analysis for our brand new ICP-OES device Thermo Scientific iCAP PRO XP Duo, likely one of the newest such devices in Northern Europe! The device and its user interface impressed us with its flexibility, but, admittedly, there were quite some things for us to learn and try too. Thanks to our lab technician Kati Hakala for being always there for us!

The experiment was a part of the project searching ways to improve the availability of recycled lake sediment phosphorus and other nutrients for crops (ryegrass). We test the fertilizing ability of sediments from the four lakes of the Päijät-Häme region (Enonselkä basin of Lake Vesijärvi, Matjärvi, Kutajärvi, Kymijärvi), but also from two Estonian lakes having different geology. The results will be extrapolated for larger areas, based on the sediment properties from a variety of lakes in southern Finland analysed within the project.

The project is led by Dr Olga Tammeorg (Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, University of Helsinki) in synergy with our AgriChar Research group. We acknowledge particularly Päijät-Häme Regional Fund of Finnish Cultural Foundation, Maa- ja vesitekniikan tuki ry and Niemi Foundation for providing funding and our Dream Team of hard-working young scientists, Anu Suwal, Nikolai Baranov, Joni Vihavainen, Mina Kiani and Subin Kalu for sample preparation and analysis. Well done!!!

Next step is to analyse the data and wrap up reports, stay tuned!

 

CarbonPark #Hiilipuisto tree measurements in autumn 2022 complete!

In the beginning of October, we visited the #HiiliPuisto #carbon sequestration park in Jätkäsaari Helsinki for the autumn 2022 measurements of trees, they had grown nicely for the most part, but in some cases, really impressively! We plan to publish the report of the first two years results of how #biochar affects tree growing media water retention capacity and tree growth by the end of 2022.

So, far, please have a look at our policy brief on general principles of such C parks: (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.672468/full), this has already a whopping 5000 views hinting that fixing carbon to urban parks really is interesting to many.

Thanks to all the team of CarbonLane project and #HiiliPuisto projects for fruitful collaboration! The work was done in collaboration with Aalto University and University of Helsinki and City of Helsinki. The growing media was provided by all major Finnish growing media companies BiHii, Biolan, Carbofex and Kiteen Mato ja Multa, HSY, Kekkilä and Tieluiska. The Carbon Lane project was funded by EIT Climate-KIC and the first follow-up project of the park, #Hiilipuisto, by Maiju ja Yrjö Rikalan Puutarhasäätiö. Thank you all, let's keep up the good work!

We'll continue the follow up in coming decades!