ABSTRACT
With rising CO2 levels and the very real prospect of peak water and the loss of cultivable lands, the ability of biochar to sequester carbon, economically and safely, combined with biochar’s water and nutrient holding capacity, are creating a growing demand for this product. As with any new product, a sudden increase in demand requires a careful analysis of costs and bene‹ts of both product and application techniques to achieve the greatest possible bene‹t while at the same time reducing, or eliminating, environmental or economic risks. Over the past several years, our work has shown that biochar’s full potential is viable even with application rates as little as 1 metric ton per hectare (mt/ha). Surprisingly, this approach has shown that biochar’s potential may be even greater than originally anticipated, providing speci‹c measures are taken when applying it to the ‹eld. In this chapter, we will review a speci‹c application process we have developed, discuss both laboratory and ‹eld experiments, and suggest future directions that could be advantageous.
