Biochar
Lightweight black residue, made of carbon and ashes, after pyrolysis of biomass / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Biochar is the lightweight black residue, consisting of carbon and ashes, remaining after the pyrolysis of biomass, and is a form of charcoal.[1] Biochar is defined by the International Biochar Initiative as the "solid material obtained from the thermochemical conversion of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment".[2]
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Biochar is mainly used for soil application and is known to improve soil nutrient availability, aeration in soil, and soil water filtration. Biochar application may thus increase soil fertility of acidic soils and increase agricultural productivity.[3] Potential adverse effects of biochar include the disturbance of soil pH levels and the introduction of harmful chemical characteristics that cause problems at the micro dimension.
Beyond soil application uses of biochar include slash-and-char, water retention, as well as additive for stock fodder. There is increasing focus on the potential role of biochar application in global climate change mitigation. Due to its refractory stability, biochar can stay in soils or other environments for thousands of years.[4] This has given rise to the concept of Biochar Carbon Removal, i.e. carbon sequestration in the form of biochar.[5] Carbon removal can be achieved when high quality biochar is applied to soils, or added as a substitute material to construction materials such as concrete and tar.