Thursday, January 7, 2010

What is Biochar?

1. Biochar Is a Valuable Soil Amendment


Biochar is a 2,000 year-old practice that converts agricultural waste into a soil enhancer that can hold carbon, boost food security and discourage deforestation. The process creates a fine-grained, highly porous charcoal that helps soils retain nutrients and water.

Biochar is found in soils around the world as a result of vegetation fires and historic soil management practices. Intensive study of biochar-rich dark earths in the Amazon (terra preta), has led to a wider appreciation of biochar’s unique properties as a soil enhancer.

Biochar can be an important tool to increase food security and cropland diversity in areas with severely depleted soils, scarce organic resources, and inadequate water and chemical fertilizer supplies.

Biochar also improves water quality and quantity by increasing soil retention of nutrients and agrochemicals for plant and crop utilization. More nutrients stay in the soil instead of leaching into groundwater and causing pollution.


2. Biochar is a Powerfully Simple Tool to Combat Climate Change


The carbon in biochar resists degradation and can hold carbon in soils for hundreds to thousands of years. Biochar is produced through pyrolysis or gasification — processes that heat biomass in the absence (or under reduction) of air.

In addition to creating a soil enhancer, sustainable biochar practices can produce oil and gas byproducts that can be used as fuel, providing clean, renewable energy. When the biochar is buried in the ground as a soil enhancer, the system can become "carbon negative."

Biochar and bioenergy co-production can help combat global climate change by displacing fossil fuel use and by sequestering carbon in stable soil carbon pools. It may also reduce emissions of nitrous oxide.

We can use this simple, yet powerful, technology to store 2.2 gigatons of carbon annually by 2050. It’s one of the few technologies that is relatively inexpensive, widely applicable, and quickly scalable. We really can’t afford not to pursue it.

Source of article: International Biochar Initiatives (IBI)

5 comments:

  1. How it can be used as a tool? I may need to look for other text.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Welcome friends
    I have good news for you; I found the best book about biochar
    http://biochar-books.com/
    It is a truly biochar Bible.
    I believe this is the most beautiful gift for your loved ones.
    A real deal at a great price

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm a very big fan of biochar and had produced my own bio-char that i learnt from the net... I have used it for my papayas and it really works. My papaya grew to about 4 feet and sweet. Please contact me for further discussions. Rashidi Aziz, Ketua Biro Pertanian, PPIM..

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm a very big fan of biochar and had produced my own bio-char that i learnt from the net... I have used it for my papayas and it really works. My papaya grew to about 4 feet and sweet. Please contact me for further discussions. Rashidi Aziz, Ketua Biro Pertanian, PPIM..

    ReplyDelete


  5. Do you need Personal Loan?
    Business Cash Loan?
    Unsecured Loan
    Fast and Simple Loan?
    Quick Application Process?
    Approvals within 24-72 Hours?
    No Hidden Fees Loan?
    Funding in less than 1 Week?
    Get unsecured working capital?
    Contact Us At : gaincreditloan1@gmail.com
    Whatsapps +1-(551) 356-4045 (call/WhatsApp)

    ReplyDelete