is biochar a fertilizer?

1. Biochar Terra Preta Soil Minerals Carbon is biochar a nutrient? is biochar a fertilizer? 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 Committee International Biochar Initiative www.biochar-international.org In soil, biochar breaks down very slowly – not in months, but decades, even centuries (oxidation & digestion) Biochar isn’t consumed by soil life Fresh from a burner, biochar is sterile, with no biological activity – no microbes – and hydrophobic – repels water Adding only biochar to soil retards plant growth up to 2 years ? Fertilizers must be added with biochar Biochar is: sponge to absorb & hold water storehouse to adsorp nutrient ions (C.E.C.) substrate habitat & housing for microbes Acrisol Terra Preta Acrisol Biochar Charcoal Charcoal typical Amazon soil Infertile clay click to continue

2. Bark Biochar & Fertilizer Biochar Soil Minerals Carbon Research 3-Year Field Trials Rice & Sorghum 366% biochar + NPK biochar + NPK NPK control 267% 881% control NPK Effect of bark biochar and fertilizer on plant growth and soil properties in south Sumatra Yamato 2004 unpublished Christoph Steiner1; W. G. Teixeira2; Johannes Lehmann3; W. Zech1 1 Institute of Soil Science, Univ.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 click to continue