Washington State University (WSU) has launched a six-year research initiative to study the combined effects of biochar and hemp rotations on agricultural crops.
The project, backed by a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, aims to evaluate the long-term impact of the two farming practices on soil health and productivity in crops, including corn, chickpeas, and wheat.
Powerful combo
“We want to see how different combinations of hemp and biochar affect the entire cropping system over time and how beneficial these practices are for soil health,” said David Gang, project leader and director of WSU’s Center for Cannabis Policy, Research and Outreach (CCPRO). “Hemp and biochar are both potentially powerful tools for invigorating agricultural soils. Together, they might amplify each other’s effects.”
Biochar, a carbon-rich material derived from partially burned organic matter, will be applied to test fields in the spring. Researchers will assess more than a dozen biochar applications alongside two hemp rotation schedules.
CCPRO, which comprises more than 70 researchers, focuses on four key areas: the impact of cannabis on human and animal health, industrial hemp research, public safety and policy implications, and cannabis economics. Gang holds WSU’s producer license for all hemp-related research conducted on university property.
Participants
The study involves collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including farmers from the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and a private farm in Tekoa, Washington. Researchers from WSU, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the University of Connecticut will measure and model the effects of biochar and hemp on soil health, emissions, and overall ecosystem impact.
Yard Stick PBC, Cambridge, Massachusetts, a soil measurement technology company, will contribute advanced soil carbon measurement tools, including a spectrometer probe and real-time soil analysis systems, to the research initiative.
“Biochar’s role in the rapid, durable decarbonization of agricultural supply chains is very promising,” said Chris Tolles, CEO of Yard Stick. “Our mission is to activate soils for climate and agricultural impact.”
Effects of hemp on soil
In addition to biochar’s carbon sequestration potential, hemp’s deep root systems improve soil aeration, water retention, and the removal of harmful contaminants.
“By putting hemp and biochar together in the soil, we can use less fertilizer,” Gang said. “This combination of treatments will give plants better access to nutrients, save huge costs in energy and labor, and decrease environmental impact.”
The research could pave the way for broader adoption of biochar and hemp in sustainable farming practices, offering potential cost savings and ecological benefits for commercial agriculture.