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Resources

Videos

Ray Gallian of Sonoma Biochar Initiative explains Biochar
Biochar/Agrichar/Terra Preta
The promise of Biochar
The promise of Biochar Part 2  On the Farm
Biochar_ A product for the future
Making Biochar: with Peter Hirst of New England Biochar
Rice Hull Biochar Trial Hangzhou, China 2007
Biochar Potential or Pitfall? Carbon Storage vs Soil Quality
Black Gold Agriculture
Adam Retort
Biochar in Costa Rica
Making Biochar for Small Farms

 

Biochar Organizations

International Biochar Initiative

United States Biochar Initiative

North Bay Institute of Green Technology

 

North American Biochar Groups:

Commercial Production Technology

There is an interesting project in Belize right now with 5 mobile drum kilns that are used at coffee plantations to produce biochar and then move as more trees are pruned, etc and the biochar is left onsite for agriculture.  We did a story on their work recently which is available at: http://www.biochar-international.org/carbongold (and there is contact information for Simon Manley at the bottom of the story).

Black is Green out of Australia has a mobile pyrolyzer that can move from field to field to make biochar onsite as well which would be larger than the Belize units (more information at: http://www.biochar-international.org/projects/BiGchar).


Books

Biochar for Environmental Management: Science and Technology by Johannes Lehmann and Stephen Joseph

The Biochar Debate: Charcoal’s Potential to Reverse Climate Change and Build Soil Fertility (Schumacher Briefings) by James Bruges

Biochar-Ancient Agr Techique For 21st Century by Natan Snider

The Biochar Revolution: Transforming Agriculture & Environment by Paul Taylor PhD

Ten Technologies to Save the Planet: Energy Options for a Low-Carbon Future by Chris Goodall

BIOCHAR: A Cost Benefit Analysis in the Scottish Whisky Industry by Simon P. Messenger

 

Articles

Adam Retort Summary

New Australian Agricultural Study of Biochar

Biochar Farms
Putting Biochar Policy on the Right Track
Biochar in Viticulture—New Results

NATURE STUDY;
Sustainable biochar mitigate global climate change
http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v1/n5/full/ncomms1053.html>
Not talked about in this otherwise comprehensive study are the whole ecological implications of new , higher value, char applications

The in situ remediation of a vast variety of toxic agents in soils and sediments.
Biochar Sorption of Contaminants;
http://www.biorenew.iastate.edu/events/biochar2010/conference-agenda/agenda-overview/breakout-session-5/agriculture-forestry-soil-science-and-environment.html
The uses as a feed ration for livestock to reduce GHG emissions and increase disease resistance.
Recent work showing a 52% reduction of NH3 loss when char is used as a composting accelerator. This will have profound value added consequences for the commercial composting industry

Every 1 ton of Biomass yields 1/3 ton Charcoal for soil Sequestration (= to 1 Ton CO2e) + Bio-Gas & Bio-oil fuels = to 1MWh exported electricity, so is a totally virtuous, carbon negative energy cycle.