Dr. Aaron Jennings and Dr. Robert Mullen
From 2009 to 2010, Dr. Aaron Jennings and Dr. Robert Mullen from the Department of Civil Engineering carried on a research project in the Debra Ann November Research Greenhouse, to study the potential for development of carbon-negative biofuels. They studied the impact of the addition of biomass-derived charcoal on the growth of the African oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacq. and soybean Glycine L. max because they are the source of more than half of the world's vegetable oil production.
Both species are being grown in the farm greenhouse in a variety of soils with and without biomass-derived charcoal amendments. Plant growth is being measured over a one- or two-year period and the impact of the charcoal soil amendment will be quantified.