Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
of mineral nutrients in soils, etc. Biomass carbon in biochar is super-stable
and will remain in soil for hundreds of years. Biochar promotes a microbi-
al population explosion and these microbes sequester more carbon as their
living and dead bodies, which causes a doubling or more of plant growth,
which sequesters even more carbon into living biomass. Biochar loosens,
lightens, opens, and aerates soil so it requires less machinery and energy
for tillage. Biochar plus microbes holds nutrients in soil, to reduce carbon
and nitrogen emissions and leaching, thus reduce or eliminate synthetic,
energy intensive fertilizers. Making biochar by gasification produces gas
and liquid biofuels to replace fossil fuels for energy and, as a bonus; bio-
char creates nutrient-dense soil to grow nutrient-dense food to reverse the
growing epidemic of chronic and degenerative diseases, and their rising
health care costs. The influence of biochar on soil properties is likely to
vary significantly between different biochars because biochar properties
are governed by the biomass source and the pyrolysis.
Conditions such as temperature and activation treatment (Chan et al.,
2007, 2008; Chan and Xu, 2009; Gaskin et al., 2008; Novak et al., 2009;
Nguyen et al., 2010). Singh et al. (2001) reported that Biochar pH varied
significantly among feedstocks, ranging from 6.93 to 10.26. Higher py-
rolysis temperature increased the pH of most biochars. The total C content
of the biochars varied widely, with average values ranging from 165 to
836 g/kg. The eucalyptus wood and leaf biochars had the highest total C
content and cow manure biochars the lowest. All these effects need to be
explained and quantified so that we know exactly the likely effects of soil
application of various biochars before being advocated on a larger scale.
13.3
APPLICATIONS OF BIOCHAR IN HORTICULTURE
In horticulture, biochars have potential applications over a wide range of
crops, soils, crop stages and motives. A few of them are being projected
in this proposition based on researches conducted in different parts of the
world.
13.3.1 BIOCHAR—A SUBSTRATE FOR ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
Biochar made from wood has been reported to have positive influences
on ornamental features of potted plants for high ornamental value. This is
