Biochar Research Research Articles

Highlighting Progress on Biochar Research, Projects, and Technology: Third International Biochar Conference: IBI 2010; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 12–15 September 2010

Biochar is a fine‐grained, highly porous charcoal that helps soils retain nutrients and water. It is made by heating biomass in the absence of oxygen to drive off volatile gases, leaving carbon and other nutrients behind. Biochar could provide long‐term natural terrestrial carbon sequestration while increasing soil fertility. Additionally, gases released during the production process, also called pyrolysis, could be used for heating and/or electricity generation. The latest biochar science, technology, and policies were presented recently at the 3rd International Biochar Conference: IBI 2010, in Brazil.

Pioneering works in biochar research, Japan

In Asian countries, people have a long history of using rice husk charcoal or wood ash as an agricultural soil amendment, but evidence of this has been long obscured. Since the 1980s, microbiological studies, mainly on symbiotic organisms, have been performed in Japan. Charcoal is a porous material with high water and air retention capacities and high alkalinity. Therefore, it stimulates root growth and enhances the infection of various symbiotic microbes to plant partners. The use of carbonised materials in agriculture, forestry, and construction will contribute to the sustainability of crop production, soil conservation, and carbon sequestration. Biochar-related research accumulated mainly in Japan is reviewed.