Biochar is a 2,000 year-old practice that converts agricultural waste into a soil enhancer that can hold carbon, boost food security and discourage
deforestation. The process creates a fine-grained, highly porous charcoal that helps soils retain nutrients and water.
it improves water quality and quantity by increasing soil retention of nutrients
it
improves soil health, to filter and retain nutrients from percolating soil water, and to provide carbon storage.
Benefits
Biochar increases the cation exchange capacity (CEC) in soils.
Biochar enhances soil microbial functions. The porous structure of char forms a safe haven for microbes that make nutrients available to crops.
Biochar improves the nutrient retention capacity of
soils by preventing leaching and erosion; this allows farmers to use organic and inorganic fertilizers in a cost-effective manner.
Biochar improves the water retention capacity of soils; the porous
structure of the material holds water and prevents the moisture from evaporating.
Biochar increases the pH of acidic soils; depending on the soil, the effect can be similar to that of lime
additions.
biochar soils are stable carbon sinks that can be built up over time and remove CO2 from the atmosphere; soils can accumulate hundreds of tonnes of C while improving soil functions
biochar systems halt slash-and-burn agriculture, and thus slow deforestation and the large emissions that go with this
biochar produced in efficient pyrolysis plants offers clean, renewable
electricity that eliminates the emissions from burning biomass in a primitive way
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