Biochar: A Soil Additive that Fights Global Warming
Biochar. It’s been around for a little while, but is only beginning to gain traction in climate change and global warming circles for its carbon negative properties. Biochar is a charcoal soil additive that is created through the “thermal treatment” (burning) of biomass residues such as rice and peanut shells, tree bark, sludge from paper mills, and other organics.
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How does it all work? During the production process, carbon contained within the biomass residues is captured as biochar and as energy (which is used as heat, power or both). The biochar itself is then used as a soil additive. Since the biochar itself is inert, it is not consumed by any organisms and is considered to act as a carbon sink (no less than the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification has identified biochar as a carbon sink).
As a soil additive, biochar has been demonstrated to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and water and soil retention in marginal soil quality.
Photo Credit: The International Biochar Initiative
The use of partially burned biomass, converting to charcoal, was used centuries ago by native Amazonian cultures who created a fertile soil that today is still rich and several feet thick. No records or people survive with the knowledge of how the original people knew the combination. It’s nice to see we may be able to rediscover one of the best soil engineering techniques before we destroy what is left of the planet
See also
http://barnhard.nl/2008/01/13/saving_rainforest_grounds/
This is great innovation that if well researched can save the environment from what will it be in the next decades. I’m just new in the field but the idea of using Biochar seems the best way for reducing the green house emmisions. Can someone give me more information on
1) How to produce Biochar.
2) How long does it take to produce it?
3) What kind of material do i need to produce Biochar?
4) What kind of technology do i require to produce more Biochar in little time?
Jumbo
Jumbo, check out this website.
http://www.biochar.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=3
It’s pretty easy to do, but that method is not intended for large scale production. There’s more info on the net… I think for large scale they use holes in the ground.
Biochar is a great way to turn waste-streams into both clean energy and a super soil amendment. Good post!