We know that biochars have several properties from tiny pores that can retain water and protect microorganisms to surface functional groups (e.g., COOH, OH, C=O, etc) that can retain plant nutrients. Are there simple ways to separate the effects of such properties on soil quality?
Here is a recent article on characterization methods for biochar porosity.
Also, you could incubate then your biochar and measure microbial respiration (CO2 with GC) for a measure of microbial activity, and also measure microbial biomass at the end of the incubation, trying then to relate these two to the measured porosity.
You can maybe sterilize your samples with irradiation (random selection from all samples) and perform identical tests?
Be aware that one of the major effects is due to the liming effect of biochars. So you need a 'lime' control
Well said Paul. Biochar has huge liming effect . Please have a look at the enclosed PDF
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