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Farm Learning with Tim Thompson: Wood Vinegar, Biochar & Pasture Research
Australian agricultural educator and communicator Tim Thompson visited PyroAg and the University of Sydney to explore the production of Wood Vinegar and biochar, and research investigating their potential applications across Australian agriculture.
From Biomass to Agricultural Inputs
The video begins at PyroAg’s production facility, where Tim explores how biomass is transformed through pyrolysis into products with potential applications across agriculture.
Pyrolysis involves heating biomass in a low-oxygen environment. During the process, gases released from the biomass are cooled and condensed to produce Wood Vinegar, while the remaining stable, carbon-rich material becomes biochar.
PyroAg’s process can utilise wood chips and other suitable biomass materials, creating agricultural products from organic material that may otherwise have limited value.
Wood Vinegar for Agriculture
Also known as pyroligneous acid, Wood Vinegar contains a complex mixture of naturally occurring organic compounds formed during pyrolysis.
PyroAg Wood Vinegar is used as an agricultural biostimulant and can be incorporated into existing farming programs through applications including foliar spraying, seed treatment and in-furrow application.
During the visit, Tim discusses the ongoing research into how Wood Vinegar interacts with plants, soils and biological processes, including work investigating its potential role within pasture systems.
Biochar and Agricultural Systems
The second major product produced through the pyrolysis process is biochar, a stable, carbon-rich material with applications across agricultural systems.
Research into biochar has investigated areas including soil management, nutrient cycling, water-holding capacity and its use within livestock production systems.
In the video, Tim and the PyroAg team also discuss research exploring biochar in ruminant systems, including its potential relationship with livestock performance and methane emissions.
PyroAg biochar is available for agricultural applications by enquiry.
Researching Wood Vinegar in Pasture Systems
The second part of Tim’s visit takes him to the University of Sydney’s research facility at Campbelltown, where researchers were investigating greenhouse gas dynamics within pasture systems.
The research looked beyond livestock alone to consider the broader farming system, including interactions between pasture, soil microorganisms, grazing animals and the carbon cycle.
As part of the work, researchers were investigating the effect of Wood Vinegar treatment on greenhouse gas exchange within pasture, including methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.
Measuring Changes in the Pasture
The research team used automated chambers positioned over treated and untreated pasture to measure greenhouse gas exchange.
Four chambers received a Wood Vinegar treatment, while another four were maintained as untreated controls. This allowed researchers to compare the two groups over time using specialised equipment capable of measuring multiple gases.
At the time the video was filmed, researchers reported early indications of reduced methane in the Wood Vinegar-treated pasture.
Importantly, the researchers also emphasised that these were preliminary observations. A longer measurement period was required before conclusions could be drawn about the effect of Wood Vinegar treatment.
Looking at the Whole Grazing System
A key theme throughout the University of Sydney visit is the importance of understanding livestock as part of a broader agricultural ecosystem.
Pastures, soils, microorganisms and grazing animals all contribute to the cycling of carbon and nutrients within a farming system. The researchers discuss how grazing can influence pasture growth and photosynthesis, while livestock manure returns nutrients to the soil.
This whole-system approach provides important context for research into agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and the role that pasture and soil management may play.
Building the Evidence
The research featured in Tim’s video provides an insight into the type of questions being investigated around Wood Vinegar, biochar and agricultural production.
While the preliminary pasture observations are encouraging, the researchers make an important distinction between early results and established findings, with continued monitoring required before firm conclusions can be reached.
For PyroAg, research like this forms part of a broader commitment to understanding how Wood Vinegar interacts with soils, plants and agricultural systems under different conditions.
Explore the Research
PyroAg continues to support and follow research into Wood Vinegar and biochar across soil health, crop production, pasture and livestock systems.
Explore our research and Research Library to learn more about the science behind Wood Vinegar and its potential applications in agriculture.
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