is biochar a fertilizer?is biochar a fertilizer?is biochar a nutrient?is biochar a nutrient?In soil, biochar breaks down very slowly In soil, biochar breaks down very slowly

– – not in months, but decades, even centuriesnot in months, but decades, even centuries(oxidation & digestion)(oxidation & digestion)

Biochar isn’t consumed by soil lifeBiochar isn’t consumed by soil lifeFresh from a burner, biochar is sterile,Fresh from a burner, biochar is sterile,

with no biological activity with no biological activity –– no microbes – no microbes – and and hydrophobichydrophobic – repels water – repels water

CharcoalCharcoal

Soil MineralsSoil Minerals

CharcoalCharcoalBiocharBiocharAcrisolAcrisol

Terra PretaTerra Preta

Terra PretaTerra PretaAcrisolAcrisoltypical Amazon soiltypical Amazon soil

Infertile clayInfertile clay

?Biochar is:Biochar is:spongesponge to absorb & hold waterto absorb & hold waterstorehousestorehouse to adsorp nutrient ions (C.E.C.)to adsorp nutrient ions (C.E.C.)substratesubstratehabitat & housing for microbeshabitat & housing for microbes

BiocharBiochar

Adding only biochar to soil Adding only biochar to soil retards plant growth up to 2 yearsretards plant growth up to 2 yearsFertilizers must be added with biocharFertilizers must be added with biochar

What is Biochar?Biochar is fine-grained charcoal high in organic carbon, largely resistant to decomposition,produced from pyrolysis of plant and waste feedstocks. As soil amendment, biochar creates a recalcitrant soil carbon pool that is carbon-negative – –– – net withdrawal of atmospheric carbon.Enhanced nutrient retention capacity of biochar-amended soil reduces total fertilizer requirements, also climate and environmental impact of croplands.

Scientific Advisory CommitteeInternational Biochar Initiative

www.biochar-international.org

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biocharbiochar++

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Effect of bark biochar and fertilizerEffect of bark biochar and fertilizeron plant growth and soil propertieson plant growth and soil properties

in south Sumatrain south SumatraYamato 2004 unpublished

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Bark Biochar & FertilizerBark Biochar & FertilizerResearchResearch

Soil MineralsSoil Minerals

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Christoph Steiner1; W. G. Teixeira2; Johannes Lehmann3; W. Zech1

1 Institute of Soil Science, Univ. of Bayreuth, Germany 2 Embrapa Amazonia Ocidental, Manaus, Brazil 3 Dept of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell Univ., USA

267%267%881%881%

366%366%

3-Year Field Trials3-Year Field TrialsRice & SorghumRice & Sorghum

BiocharBiochar