Highlights from EUROSOIL 2025 conference

 AgriChar research group had a major presence at EUROSOIL2025 conference last week! This time we presented six posters and one oral presentation about best practices to use biochars as soil amendments in the boreal soils, both in agriculture as well as in the urban tree planting scenarios. 

 Samuel, Zannatul and Zhouyang showcased their latest findings about effects of nutrient-loaded biochars on nitrogen fixation, earthworms, greenhouse gas emissions and also on the results of biochar particles moving downwards in the soil profile. Priit shared the results from our urban carbon fixing park #Hiilipuisto as well as highlights from over long-term biochar experiments over 15 years in Finland (including the results on soil biota by Jure Zrim and of course the nutrient dynamics studies by Subin Kalu). Naturally, we really appreciate the contribution of our colleagues, without whom this would not have been possible, thanks to Asko Simojoki, Kristiina Karhu, Anu Riikonen, Topi Kopakkala, Esko Salo, Mikko Jalas and all others who have contributed to the teamwork! We are grateful for the funding agencies for supporting our work and also this trip, thanks Tiina and Antti Herlin Foundation , Niemi Foundation , Olvi Foundation  and Maa- ja vesitekniikan tuki ry  !

 

It was truly an inspiring week amidst warm discussions with old and new colleagues, thanks Daniel Rasse, Frank Verheijen, Heike Knicker, Laurin Reim, Evelin Pihlap and Jussi Heinonsalo- and many others! Of biochar highlights, the latest studies by Heike Knicker and Jose Maria De La Rosa from Spain were really fascinating as well as some of the first studies on the cascaded use of biochar (soil amendment use only after first using as feed or manure amendment) by Jiri Kucerik and another by Samuel Schlichenmaier.

It was also nice to catch up with the research from neighbouring Sweden on biochar persistence by Haichao Li and colleagues as well as manure pellet research from Sweden by Oksana Valetska. In Finland, we also have the challenge of manure nutrients concentrating in different part of the country where P fertilization is needed and manure pellets could be the way forward. We were also happy to see lots of long-term field experiments still followed up and facilitating promising conclusions like the first signs of C gains from British soils (by Laura Bentley), hopefully the upwards trends are continuing and the decline in soil carbon can be stopped with C farming practices. Also the Finnish Carbon Action project showed promising results in this direction after five years of C farming, thanks Jussi Heinonsalo for sharing these new results!

 Additionally, there were quite some agroforestry experiments and sediment recycling studies that we definitely will be following up! 

 Now we focus on finalizing the field season and the sampling campaigns!