Characterization of Pyrolysis Char for Use as an Agricultural Soil Amendment
Keith Harris1, Julia Gaskin1, Leticia Sonon2, and K.C. Das1
1Dept. of Biol. & Ag. Eng., 2AESL, College of Ag & Env. Sci University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Introduction:
The Southeastern Coastal Plain in the United States is a major agricultural production area; however, soils are typically low in cation exchange capacity (CEC), nutrient content, and organic carbon content. For example, Tifton
loamy sand (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults) has organic carbon, CEC, and base saturation
of less than 1%, 5 cmol kg-1, and 40%, respectively in the Aphorizon.

Studies of charcoal in forest and agricultural systems indicate it affects soil fertility parameters and may affect
overall productivity (Tryon, 1948; Glaser et al., 2002; Briggs, 2005). This study reports preliminary screening of pyrolysis chars from several feedstocks for nutrient concentrations and CEC.

Material and Methods:
Char: Peanut hull pellets (PN), pine chips (PC), pine bark (PB), sawdust (SD), and hardwood chips (HW) produced at
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