Biochar: What is It & How Does it Feed Healthy Soil?

Biochar technology offers many significant benefits to proponents of regenerative or sustainable agriculture. Inspired by ancient Amazonian soils called terra preta, biochar has been presented by its most enthusiastic advocates as a panacea for global warming. This is perhaps an overstatement of its capabilities, yet it has considerable potential and could be a valuable tool in the fight against climate change.

What Is Biochar?

Biochar is organic matter which has been heated at incredibly high temperatures in a very low oxygen environment. This engenders a process called pyrolysis, or decomposition, which turns the organic material into a black, crumbly substance similar to charcoal. Human beings have been using pyrolysis to treat organic material since the days of Ancient Egypt.

One of the other characteristics of biochar is that it has a very high and stable carbon content, and optimal levels of micro and macro elements like zinc, copper, potassium, and magnesium. It is also highly porous, filled with condensed, sturdy aromatic structures.

Biochar: has multiple beneficial uses in soil enhancement, filtration, storm water mitigation, etc. It contains advanced carbon materials for use in bio-plastics, wood replacements, pigments, fillers, etc.

Woody biomass can be processed into durable, inert carbon capable of sequestering carbon and keeping it out of the atmosphere for 100’s to 1000’s of years.

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