Biochar Basics
This process, involving heating biomass in low oxygen, produces biochar.
What is pyrolysis?
Biochar improves this property of soil, making it easier for roots to grow.
What is soil structure?
Biochar acts as a vault for this element, locking it in soil for centuries.
What is carbon?
Biochar’s porous structure provides habitats for these tiny soil organisms.
What are microbes?
Producing biochar requires significant amounts of this, especially if fossil fuels are used.
What is energy?
Ancient Amazonian farmers used biochar to create these famously fertile soils.
What is terra preta?
Farmers in dry regions benefit from biochar’s ability to retain this.
What is water?
Methane and nitrous oxide are examples of these gases reduced by biochar.
What are greenhouse gases?
By adsorbing pollutants, biochar improves both soil and this essential resource.
What is water?
Dust and particulates from biochar production pose risks to this aspect of human health.
What is respiratory health?
Biochar’s porous structure makes it excellent at holding these two essentials for plants.
What are water and nutrients?
By boosting nutrient availability, biochar helps increase these agricultural outcomes.
What are crop yields?
Integrating biochar into farming systems supports this kind of resilience against climate change.
What is climate resilience?
Reducing fertilizer use and runoff helps protect these marine ecosystems downstream.
What are coral reefs?
Overuse of biochar can disrupt soil chemistry, including changes in this measure of acidity.
What is pH?
Common feedstocks for biochar include wood chips, crop residues, and this farm by‑product.
What is manure?
Biochar strengthens soil by improving aeration and this water‑related property.
What is water retention?
Besides CO₂, biochar reduces emissions of these two potent greenhouse gases.
What are methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O)?
Biochar reduces nutrient runoff, protecting coral reefs and these aquatic food sources.
What are fisheries?
Biochar’s effectiveness varies depending on these two environmental factors.
What are soil type and climate?
Biochar is unique because it can remain in soils for this length of time.
What are centuries?
Degraded soils benefit from biochar because it helps restore this essential quality.
What is fertility?
By storing carbon, biochar contributes to this global effort.
What is climate change mitigation?
Biochar boosts soil biodiversity by supporting these microscopic life forms.
What are beneficial microbes?
Scaling biochar use faces challenges in sourcing and transporting this raw material.
What is biomass?