Page 17 - TNPW Jan-Feb2018 Vol35 No6

Carlex’s array of products intensifies
this issue, she added. The plant generates
a multitude of crates, cardboard, wood
pallets, racks, packaging materials and
more from the manufacturing and
distribution processes. In addition,
millions of pieces of glass per day are
transported and distributed.
Carlex’s renewable results:
• 2015: 515 tons of waste sent to the
landfill
• 2016: 687 tons of waste wood sent to
the Lebanon downdraft gasification
plant for fuel; 42 tons sent to the landfill
after Rockwood Recycling harvested all
recyclables
• May 2017: Less than 10 percent of all
Carlex waste is sent to the landfill
• Carlex projects its 2017 diversion to the
landfill to reach 712 tons by the end of
the year.
Biochar Opportunities
Currently the University of Tennessee
Institute of Agriculture is engaged in the
study of Lebanon’s biochar in five different
areas of the state. Biochar is the carbon-
rich product that is left over after the
completion of the gasification process. For
example, for every 100 pounds of wood
that is gasified at the plant, the city gets 95 moisture. Chickens sometimes eat the
pounds equivalent of producer gas that is
used to generate electricity, and 5 pounds of
carbon-rich biochar is left over. Associate
Professor of Biosystems Engineering and
Soil Science at the University of Tennessee
Dr. Forbes Walker is heading up the studies.
Biochar can be used as a soil enhancement
because its carbon properties capture and
hold water that leads to deeper roots and
increased growth.
Effects on Fescue
The effects of different amounts/
concentrations of biochar on the
growth of fescue is underway in Wilson
County. Biochar from the Lebanon plant
containing 10 percent biosolids from the
wastewater treatment plant was weighed
and spread by hand on the one-third-acre
test area. The first fescue harvested and
soil sampling took place last summer.
There are also control sites with no
biochar added. There are areas where urea
(fertilizer) only was added. The weight
amounts are to simulate the tonnage per
acre that will be needed.
Walker thinks this type of study is
unique in the biochar world. He cannot
find where anyone has done this kind of
research. He hopes when the results are in,
he will be able to tell a farmer how much by the Trustees of the Hobart Ames
biochar to use on his fields to achieve a Foundation as Successor Trustees under
specific result. For example, if a farmer the Will of the late Julia C. Ames. Ames
is primarily a cattle farmer, he will want Plantation also functions as one of the
to use the combination that produces the University of Tennessee’s AgResearch and
most protein in the fescue. Education Centers.
Dairy Farmer Dr. Forbes Walker, Associate Professor of
Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science at UT
A local dairy farmer in Wilson County Knoxville, is heading up a study of the effects
has agreed to use the Lebanon biochar in of biochar on fescue at the UT Agriculture
his manure storage pit. He is anticipating Extension office located near the fairgrounds
that the biochar will not only act as a filter in Lebanon. For the recent distribution of
but also will accelerate the breakdown the biochar, he assembled a diverse group
of the manure and control the odor. The of volunteers from five different countries.
first application was set to take place in Pictured on the back row are Logan Helstein
December 2017. (Wilson County) and Manuel Avalos (El
Salvador) both from Rockwood Recycling, and
Chicken Broiler Houses Walker (UK). On the front row from the City of
Lebanon, Scott McRae and Jesse Gillam,
The University of Tennessee at Dr. Sindhu Jagadamma (India and also on
Knoxville team has received a grant to staff at UT Knoxville), and UT Knoxville
research the use of the Lebanon biochar in graduate student Xiuwen Li (China).
a chicken broiler house in Bradley County
as a means to control odor and act as a
filter. To date, the biochar has only been
on site for three weeks. It is hoped that the
biochar may be part of the solution for the
growing ammonia problem and bacteria
issues in chicken houses. Then, at the end
of the growing season, all the leftovers
are windrow composted. The addition of
biochar speeds up the composting process
by several days because it takes in the
biochar but it does not harm them.
Flood Control
Funding from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture is making possible the testing
of Lebanon’s biochar versus sawdust as
a flood water deterrent in three West
Tennessee locations. The Ames Plantation
in Fayette County as well as sites in
Madison and Gibson counties are being
earmarked for this testing.
Ames Plantation, home of the National
Field Trial Championship for All-Age Bird
Dogs, is privately owned and operated
View online at tnpublicworks.com 17