What Is Biochar?
- Johanna Tanhuanpää
- Sep 12
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 14
While the history of biochar use in agriculture reaches back at least 2.500 years to the
Amazonian terra preta soils, modern intensive farming is not widely utilising this
knowledge. Many farmers are still unfamiliar with the benefits of biochar and how it can be
used in agriculture.
What is it?
Biochar is defined as a carbon-rich material produced during pyrolysis process that is a
absence or limited supply of oxygen. Biochar can be produced from various different
biomaterials, such as wood, plant residues or even manure.
How can it be used?
Biochar has many possible uses in agriculture. Biochar can for example be added to soil as
a soil amendment to improve soil structure, fertility, and water retention. It can be used as
fertiliser enhancer mixed with fertiliser to enhance its effectiveness and reduce the amount
of fertiliser needed.
It can also be used as bedding for livestock, helping to reduce odours and pathogens in manure and urine. Biochar can be used as a compost activator, added to compost to enhance the composting process and improve the quality of the compost. It can also be used in bioreactors to improve the biodegradation of organic waste and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions8
What are the benefits?
The benefits of using biochar range from decreased nutrient runoff to waterways to
carbon capturing to reduced GHG emissions.
Some of the potential key benefits for using biochar in agriculture include:
Improving soil fertility and structure
Increasing crop yields
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Increasing water retention in soil
Increasing nutrient availability to plants
Improving soil pH levels
Helping remediate contaminated soils
Reducing fertiliser and pesticide usage
Increasing carbon sequestration