Biochar stores carbon in the soil and increases its fertility
Type of management carried out for many years in the Amazon draws attention for its capacity to accumulate carbon and increase soil fertility
A good option to reduce the amount of carbon found in the atmosphere, which causes many problems for the environment, is to return it to the soil. Through the pyrolysis process, the “biochar” is produced and then deposited on land.
Pyrolysis is characterized by the exposure of biomass, such as pieces of wood, to high temperatures and lack of oxygen. Remaining crops can also be turned into biochar. In Japan, for example, it is estimated that 1/3 of cultivated rice husks are directed to the pyrolysis process.
In addition to coal, the process also gives rise to a gas, which can be used as a heat source for the next batch of coal production and, therefore, is not released into the atmosphere. Studies are being carried out to measure its potential as a fuel.
The charcoal resulting from the pyrolysis process has a dark color and a high carbon content, which will remain fixed to the earth for hundreds or even thousands of years. It also increases the pH of the soil (from 3.5 to 5), making it less acidic and up to three times more fertile. The surface of charcoal has many active microbes and retains water. Thus, the recovery of degraded soils is possible and the chances of plant growth are greater, as well as the beginning of agricultural production in places where it was introduced. This results in another benefit, as they can be an alternative to nitrogen fertilizers.
In the United States, the company Biochar Solutions, located in Carbondale, Colorado, has developed machines capable of producing biochar in a more practical way. Those interested in acquiring the equipment become partners of the company around the country. The company also sells three types of charcoal made from reused wood.
For more information, visit the brand's official website.
