BIOCHAR Stable Carbon-rich Charcoal

WHAT IS BIOCHAR? Biochar is the product of the conversion of agricultural waste. Fine-grained, highly porous charcoal.

PRODUCTION Biomass is made from: Crop stubble Wood chips Manure Municipal waste Heated with little or no oxygen Other animal wastes Bone Dairy shed waste Chicken litter

Australia has an extensive range of biomass suitable for pyrolysis: broadacre grain trash/stubble agricultural processing residues (macadamia nut shells, olive pips, bagasse from sugar cane production and husks from cereals or rice), forestry residues (wood blocks, wood chips and tree bark) and grass residues (both improved pastures and native grasses)

Pyrolysis Reactor

POSITIVES Improvements in- physical & chemical soil characteristics nutrient use efficiency reductions in greenhouse gas emissions

POSITIVES CONTINUED Recently announced funding for research under the Carbon Farming Initiative. “As Johannes Lehmann, a leading researcher in the field, said ‘biochar can be used to address some of the most urgent environmental problems of our time—soil degradation, food insecurity, water pollution from agrichemicals and climate change’ (Renner 2007).”

NEGATIVES Biochar feed stocks and production conditions can significantly influence the quality of Biochar. No simple classification or generalisation of the end product. Not all crops behave the same or improve. Biochar may also bind and reduce the efficacy of some agricultural chemicals.

Conclusion Biochar is an exciting development in the agricultural industry. It’s positives outweigh its negatives, of which there are many more to come.