Converting Waste Agricultural Biomass into a Resource - UNEP

More and more research shows that soils amended with the char have very
beneficial effects on crop growth. The enhanced nutrient retention capacity of
biochar-amended soil not only reduces the total fertilizer requirements but
also the climate and environmental impact of croplands.
Char-amended soils have shown 50 - 80 percent reductions in nitrous oxide
emissions and reduced runoff of phosphorus into surface waters and leaching
of nitrogen into groundwater. As a soil amendment, biochar significantly
increases the efficiency of and reduces the need for traditional chemical
fertilizers, while greatly enhancing crop yields. Experiments have shown
yields for some crops can be doubled and even tripled
Institutional and Regulatory Consideration or Requirements
The biochar concept has meanwhile received formal political support. In order
to speed up biochar research the U.S., Colorado's Senator Ken Salazar (D)
recently introduced 'The Salazar Harvesting Energy Act of 2007' [*.pdf],
focused on carbon-negative bioenergy production. The bill (S.1884) is
awaiting discussion in the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
Committee.
GHG Emission Reduction Potential
Char-amended soils have shown 50 - 80 percent reductions in nitrous oxide
emissions and reduced runoff of phosphorus into surface waters and leaching
of nitrogen into groundwater.
Biochar thus offers the promise of carbon-negative biofuel production
sustained by a cycle in which crop production is boosted, emissions lowered,
and reliance on synthetic fertilizers reduced. Moreover, unlike CCS it is a
cost-effective carbon sequestration method: under a basic scenario
sequestering biochar from biofuels produced by pyrolysis would be
competitive when carbon prices reach US$37 (carbon currently fetches
€21.55 on the European market, that is $30.5, and prices are expected to
increase strongly in the near future).
Examples of Real Life Applications
Research level
421