16 Facts About Biochar

Biochar is the lightweight black residue, made of carbon and ashes, remaining after the pyrolysis of biomass.

Biochar is defined by the International Biochar Initiative as "the solid material obtained from the thermochemical conversion of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment".

Biochar is a stable solid that is rich in pyrogenic carbon and can endure in soil for thousands of years.

Biochar is a high-carbon, fine-grained residue that is produced via pyrolysis; it is the direct thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen, which produces a mixture of solids, liquid, and gas products.

For example, guidelines published by the International Biochar Initiative provide standardized evaluation methods.

Biochar carbon remains in the ground for centuries, slowing the growth in atmospheric greenhouse gas levels.

Biochar offers multiple soil health benefits in degraded tropical soils, but is less beneficial in temperate regions.

Biochar's pointed out that when pre-charged with these beneficial organisms, biochar promotes good soil and plant health.

Biochar reduces leaching of E-coli through sandy soils depending on application rate, feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, soil moisture content, soil texture, and surface properties of the bacteria.

Biochar can improve water quality, reduce soil emissions of greenhouse gases, reduce nutrient leaching, reduce soil acidity, and reduce irrigation and fertilizer requirements.

Biochar's impacts are dependent on its properties as well as the amount applied, although knowledge about the important mechanisms and properties is limited.

Biochar can be adapted with specific qualities to target distinct soil properties.

Biochar reduces the need for nitrogen fertilizers, thereby reducing cost and emissions from fertilizer production and transport.

Biochar is hygroscopic due to its porous structure and high specific surface area.

Biochar asserted that in ruminants, biochar can assist digestion and reduce methane production.

Biochar used dung beetles to work the resulting biochar-infused dung into the soil without using machinery.