Biochar basics

OCTOBER 2009 PRIMEFACT 963 Biochar basics Abigail Jenkins Soil Advisory Officer Natural Resource Advisory Services, Wollongbar Carolyn Jenkinson Project Officer, Sustainable Agriculture Conservation Management, Gosford. What is Biochar? Biochar is an... More

OCTOBER 2009 PRIMEFACT 963 Biochar basics Abigail Jenkins Soil Advisory Officer Natural Resource Advisory Services, Wollongbar Carolyn Jenkinson Project Officer, Sustainable Agriculture Conservation Management, Gosford. What is Biochar? Biochar is an extremely complex stable form of carbon produced by the controlled heating of plant and/or animal material (biomass feedstock) at high temperatures (350 – 600o C) in a low oxygen environment. The technique of heating in a low oxygen environment is called pyrolysis. Biochar’s complex chemical structure is defined by the feedstock it is made from and the temperature conditions used in its manufacture. Biochar is a form of charcoal but is different in that biochar is produced in controlled conditions so that most of the carbon is converted to usable products. Charcoal usually has a total carbon content of over 75% whilst biochar often has much less total carbon (often 40-75%) but it has a higher mineral content, containing minerals such Less