Biochar is a plant based charcoal used to prevent drought in plants, increase yields by up to 140% in staple crops, retain fertilizer, decrease water usages, and sequester carbon in the soil for thousands of years. Go to International Biochar Initiative for more info!
2. What is it?
•Biochar is a form of plant based
charcoal that is produced for the
purpose of soil improvement.
•Biochar was first discovered as
layers of fertile terra preta soils prized
by farmers in Amazonian regions.
•It was discovered that terra preta is
composed of charcoal intentionally
placed by early Amazonian peoples to
improve water and nutrient retention
in poor soils.
3. How Biochar Works
•Biochar works through its
micro-pore structure.
•These micro-pores provides a,
“soil reef” for microorganisms
beneficial to food crops, such as
nitrogen fixing bacteria.
•The micro-pore structure also
retains more essential nutrients
and water better than average
soil.
•One teaspoon of biochar
contains approximately 100 sq
yards of surface area!
4. How it Benefits Agriculture
•Experimental applications of biochar have
increased yields by 140 percent in staple
crops such as corn and wheat!
•Biochar increases root mass, making plants
more resistant to drought.
•Biochar retains nitrogen and applied
fertilizers. This decreases costs to farmers
and runoff that is damaging to aquatic life
and water quality.
•Many of the most carbon deficient soils are
found in Sub-Saharan Africa. These regions
are also projected to be worst hit by the
effects of climate change induced drought.
5. How it Benefits Ecosystems
Biochar improves ecosystems by:
-Recapturing atmospheric carbon to
reduce the effects of climate change.
-Improving water and nutrient retention
in soils to increase plant biomass.
-Promoting the growth of fungi and
microorganisms beneficial to plant life
and soil.
-Preventing poisonous runoff of
applied fertilizers into nearby
watercourses.
-Reduces methane emissions, a major
greehouse gas.
6. How it Prevents Climate Change
•Biochar presents the simplest
and safest way to recapture
carbon from the atmosphere
and store it in soil for thousands
of years!
•Biochar presents a multitude of
economic benefits by creating a
saleable product with
technology and raw materials
that are extremely accessible
worldwide.
7. Production of Biochar
heat source
Flammable
wood gas
•Biochar is produced through pyrolysis.
•The process involves heating wood or
other plant material in an oxygen free
environment.
•Pyrolysis separates out the chemical
constituents of wood and leaves behind
charcoal.
•This is the same process used to
create cooking and smelting charcoal
for thousands of years!
•The byproducts are biochar,
flammable wood gas (which can be
used as cooking fuel), and biocrude (a
tar fuel).
8. Home Scale Kilns
•Biochar may be produced from any dry
agricultural or yard waste like wood chips,
grass clippings, or sawdust.
•There have been many simple designs for
home scale biochar kilns composed of
essentially three parts:
-A metal barrel to hold plant
material
-A small fire to start pyrolysis
-A supporting and insulating stone
structure
-An, “after burner” stove pipe or
collection system for flammable
wood gas
9. Industrial Scale Kilns
•Industrial sized kilns have been developed and are already in operation.
•This portable unit is produced by Colorado based Biochar Solutions Inc.
•This unit is rentable to farmers as a way to produce a saleable product from agricultural
waste during the autumn or used to improve their own fields.
10. Additional Benefits of Biochar
84mph truck powered solely by woodgas
Clean and efficient cooking
stoves in developing
countries
