Biochar in Soil for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

Title
Biochar in Soil for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Publication Date
2011
Author(s)
Waters, David
Van Zwieten, Lukas
Singh, Bhupinder Pal
Downie, Adriana
Cowie, Annette
Lehmann, Johannes
Editor
Editor(s): Bhupinder Pal Singh, Annette L Cowie, K Yin Chan
Type of document
Book Chapter
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Springer
Place of publication
London, United Kingdom
Edition
1
Series
Soil Biology
DOI
10.1007/978-3-642-20256-8_15
UNE publication id
une:12656
Abstract
Biochar technologies have the potential to significantly contribute to climate change mitigation and enhance global food security. Biochar application may improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils, reduce fertiliser requirements and stimulate plant growth, though the results vary between biochars, soil types and plant species. The effectiveness of biochar for the improvement of soil properties is influenced by the biomass feedstock and the pyrolysis conditions. Climate change mitigation impacts arise largely from the stabilisation of soil organic matter, the reduction in fertiliser requirements and gaseous emissions in soils, and the production of renewable energy which can displace fossil fuel consumption. However, mechanisms for the observed agronomic and environmental benefits from biochar application are not well understood. Furthermore, to achieve its projected billion-tonne scale (on annual basis) avoided emissions potential, highly efficient and clean processing technologies, using sustainably supplied biomass, need to be implemented globally.
Link
Citation
Soil Health and Climate Change, p. 345-368
ISBN
9783642202551
9783642202568
Start page
345
End page
368

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