Joseph, S., Discipline of Chemistry, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia, School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, Electron Microscopy Center, AIIM, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia, Institute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
Pow, D., MarronBrook Farm, Manjimup, Australia
Dawson, K., Warren Catchments Council, 52 Bath St, Manjimup, Australia
Mitchell, D.R.G., Electron Microscopy Center, AIIM, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Rawal, A., Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
Hook, J., Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
Taherymoosavi, S., School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Van Zwieten, L., Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, 1243 Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar, Australia
Rust, J., Wollongbar Primary Industries Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, 1243 Bruxner Highway, Wollongbar, Australia
Donne, S., Discipline of Chemistry, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
Munroe, P., Electron Microscopy Center, AIIM, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Pace, B., School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Graber, E., Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, POB 6, Bet Dagan, Israel
Thomas, T., Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Nielsen, S., Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Ye, J., Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Lin, Y., Discipline of Chemistry, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
Pan, G., Institute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
Li, L., Institute of Resources, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
Solaiman, Z.M., Soil Biology and Molecular Ecology Group, School of Earth and Environment (M087), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia

Addition of biochar produced through thermal decomposition of biomass has been seen as a strategy to improve soils and to sequester carbon (C), but wide scale implementation of the technology requires to devise innovative profitable solutions. To develop biochar utilisation with an integrated system approach, an innovative program was implemented in 2012 on a 53-ha farm in Western Australia to determine the costs and benefits of integrating biochar with animal husbandry and improvement of pastures. Biochar was mixed with molasses and fed directly to cows. The dung-biochar mixture was incorporated into the soil profile by dung beetles. We studied the changes in soil properties over 3 years. Biochar extracted from fresh dung and from the soil to a depth of 40 cm was characterised. A preliminary financial analysis of the costs and benefits of this integrated approach was also undertaken. The preliminary investigation results suggested that this strategy was effective in improving soil properties and increasing returns to the farmer. It was also concluded that the biochar adsorbed nutrients from the cow's gut and from the dung. Dung beetles could transport this nutrient-rich biochar into the soil profile. There was little evidence that the recalcitrant component of the biochar was reduced through reactions inside the gut or on/in the soil. Further research is required to quantify the long-term impact of integrating biochar and dung beetles into the rearing of cows. © 2015 Soil Science Society of China.