Happy Urban Dirt

what is the operate biochar? Moreover, what are we actually talking about? Don’t worry if you have doubts about this material because it is still quite modern and it is normal that you are not aware of it.

But I assure you that once you discover all its benefits, you will understand why it was cured “black gold” and is increasingly used in agriculture and horticulture. It’s a great ally for your plants, garden and environment!

What is biochar?

The first thing that should be clear is that we are talking about charcoal. On the other hand, plant-based coal is that which is obtained as a result of incomplete combustion of wood or other organic substances.

It can be said that biochar is an evolution of plant carbons because it is obtained through Pyrolysis of organic materials which range from pruning residue to manure. Many agricultural, animal husbandry and forestry residues that no longer have a operate can now be used to make this charcoal.

Through pyrolysis we transform all this “remains” in coal, which is highly valued around the world for the crucial properties it has for both the soil and the environment.

If you are considering pyrolysis, in order not to complicate things too much, you just need to know that it is a process that uses heat to chemically decompose organic matter. High temperature combined with a lack of oxygen can change the physical and chemical state of organic products.

If you are wondering about the possibility of making home-made biochar, I advise you to forget about this idea. because pyrolysis requires temperatures from 350 to 700°C.

Biochar: an ally in the fight against climate change

The fact that this organic carbon is gaining popularity is mainly due to its ability to sequester carbon.

Plants naturally act as absorbers of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, deforestation combined with very high emissions of pollutants around the world prevent plants from helping us spotless up the environment. This is where biochar comes into play.

It turns out that coal obtained in the pyrolysis process has high carbon absorption potential. It retains harmful substances in the environment and prevents their return to it. If biochar is to be used as fertilizer, that’s it last biosequestration occurs. This means that carbon dioxide is absorbed by natural ecosystems, giving rise to modern trees and plants that will produce pure oxygen.

Biochar is used in agriculture and horticulture

Intensive agriculture, which humans must develop to feed the entire population, is the so-called depletion of soil nutrients.

In recent decades, harvests have declined in many parts of the world. This happens due to factors such as lack of water, but also because the soil does not provide the plants with all the nutrients they need to grow well.

One reason there is so much enthusiasm around biochar is that it has been shown to contain it excellent fertilizing properties.

When added to the soil in which it is to be grown, it provides fertility and improves the ability of that environment to sequester carbon. I mean, what do we get? the harvest will be plentiful and the atmosphere will be a little cleaner.

Thanks to its porous structure and huge surface area, it becomes an ideal habitat for beneficial microorganisms for crops. In other words, this carbon improves the quality of the soil and therefore improves the quality and quantity of crops.

As if that wasn’t enough, biochar has something else in its favor, namely that it is cheaper than other fertilizers and it is not toxic. Thanks to it, we managed to reduce the costs associated with agricultural production and at the same time we guarantee food safety.

On a more national level, by incorporating biochar into the soil we operate for our plants, we can make them grow much stronger and more lovely, without having to resort to classic liquid fertilizers that do not always give good results.

Advantages of biochar

• Improves the quality of acidic soils.
• It maintains soil fertility, retains nutrients and helps the growth of beneficial microorganisms for crops.
• It can be used for composting.
• It is a solution for contaminated soils.
• It has a high ability to sequester carbon.
• It’s economical.
• For people engaged in agriculture, selling the waste resulting from their activities to produce this charcoal becomes an alternative source of income.

Disadvantages of biochar

Although biochar has many advantages, or rather its large-scale production, it has some disadvantages that are worth considering.

High production cost

Pyrolysis is a demanding process specialized equipment for execution. The purchase of this type of machines involves high costs, which are not always profitable for manufacturers.

Environmental influence

The raw material for the production of this charcoal is biomass (forest and agricultural residues). If there is none before proper management of biomass sourcesthis may have negative effects on the environment.

Greenhouse emissions

Biochar helps absorb carbon dioxide, but not until that time comes responsible for the emission of huge amounts of carbon dioxide and methane formed in the pyrolysis phase necessary to obtain them.

Logistics resource consumption

You cannot install biochar in the middle of the city because we have already seen that it can cause pollution. Therefore, the economic cost must be added to the inconvenience logistics to deliver it to sales pointsand carbon footprint that it generates.

So, biochar yes or no? Everything indicates that its advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Although there is still much to research and analyze regarding this product, today it is becoming a great ally of agriculture and the fight against climate change. Save his name because you will definitely hear from him in the future. And what is your opinion about this product? I’m waiting for your comments on this!