|See also the Biochar category.| for subtopics, how-tos, project
pages, designs, organization pages and more. Biochar is a name
for charcoal when it is used for particular purposes, especially
as a soil amendment. According to the International Biochar
Initiative: Biochar is a fine-grained charcoal high in organic
carbon and largely resistant to decomposition. It is produced
from pyrolysis of plant and waste feedstocks. As a soil
amendment, biochar creates a recalcitrant soil carbon pool that
is carbon-negative, serving as a net withdrawal of atmospheric
carbon dioxide stored in highly recalcitrant soil carbon stocks.
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