Dear Zaraye biochar is a solid material obtained from the carbonization of biomass. Biochar may be added to soils with the intention to improve soil functions and to reduce emissions from biomass that would otherwise naturally degrade to greenhouse gases. Biochar also has appreciable carbon sequestration value. These properties are measurable and verifiable in a characterization scheme, or in a carbon emission offset protocol.

while soil organic matter consist of humic substances and nonhumic substances.

Nonhumic substances are all those materials that can be placed in one of the categories of discrete compounds such as sugars, amino acids, fats and so on. Humic substances are the other, unidentifiable components.

So, we can say these are different with each other.

Yes, I believe that biochar is important for soil physical and chemical properties. It is part of soil organic matter that have very long residence time upto thousands years. It is more or less similar to the passive pool that is defined in many SOC models.

Dear Zaraye biochar is a solid material obtained from the carbonization of biomass. Biochar may be added to soils with the intention to improve soil functions and to reduce emissions from biomass that would otherwise naturally degrade to greenhouse gases. Biochar also has appreciable carbon sequestration value. These properties are measurable and verifiable in a characterization scheme, or in a carbon emission offset protocol.

while soil organic matter consist of humic substances and nonhumic substances.

Nonhumic substances are all those materials that can be placed in one of the categories of discrete compounds such as sugars, amino acids, fats and so on. Humic substances are the other, unidentifiable components.

So, we can say these are different with each other.

My question was provocative because I have seen people telling that biochar is the most important thing discovered in last years about soil science. For me it's important, but less than someone talks.

Biochar is different form of organic matter in soil and it is naturally added to soil through vegetation fires. Intensive study of biochar rich dark earths in the Amazon has led to a wide appreciation of biochar's unique properties as a soil enhancer. Huge amount of Biomass produced on earth may add to the gobal warming gases throgh decomposition. This has led to the idea that this waste biomass can be converted in biochar throgh pyrolosis without evolution of global warming gases, and biochar can be used to enhance the fertility of soil which may remain effective for hundreds of years to come. the imporance of Biochar lies in its multiple benefits to redue global warming, to increase soil fertility, to attain food security and so on. More research is desirable on this aspect for the welfare of mankind.

Hi Luciano,

thanks for your provocative question.

This is an opportunity to shed some light on the real significance of biochar.

Firstly, I think the real philosopher's stone is not biochar but Terra Preta. So far it has been prooven to be the world's most productive soil in a tropical climate. Biochar is just one component but it seems to be the key ingredient. Apart from its suitability for carbon sequestration due to its much longer residence time in the soil than other forms of soil organic matter, it seems to increase soil productivity more than those other forms. Especially in the tropics this solves several issues at once. In the temperates the productivity gains are much less and I would currently only advice its use in a tropical high rainfall area on light acidic soils for certain crops. It is not a silver bullet but the potential of highest crop production in the tropics is imminent especially in the wake of a growing global population and biochar can certainly play an important role in this context.

The interesting thing about biochar is that in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest some researchers are guessing that 1% of the soils contains Biochar. Amazonian is huge (5.5 million km2) and 1% represents 5.5 million hectars. We never had ancient indians enough to do this antropogenic burn in large scale. So, it is possible that the natural burning of forest is one plausible source to genesis of Biochar. It is estimated 1 million people lived in ancient Amazonian (pre-colombian). So, each indian have about 500 hectars and need to burn 5 ha to reach 1%, but they planted only cassava and their feed was almost only by hunting, so I think natural burning is too a plausible source for biochar in Amazonian soils.

you asked "Do you think biochar is so important to soil properties" - yes it is, because many studies showed evidence of improved soil nutrient sorption - so there are clear benefits in reduction of nutrients leaching and optimized plant nutrition.

Yes Saulius, I understand your point, but if for example I apply some composted organic material to the soil... Won't I have similar effects than if I apply biochar? If I burn some organic material to produce biochar, this material will have more adsorption sites than the original material before burn? I agree with Michael points, I think the most important thing about Biochar is its resistance to degradation in tropical soils, where standard organic material are fastly decomposed. If you think about temperate regions, maybe apply organic material instead of biochar produces more benefits, like improve soil microbial biomass, aggregation, among others.

Dear Luciano Gatiboni , You are right.

In general, the largest growth response of plant with biochar addition is expected in degraded, nutrient poor, highly acidic and low water holding capacity soils compared to good quality soils

Biochar is produced from organic wastes (organic matter at various stages of decomposition) but it is important in terms that it stabilizes the organic matter already present in soil. Due to higher retentive capacity, it becomes the sink for many organic and inorganic compounds (essential and non-essential). Its stabilization in soil may become a blessings (decreasing availability toxic compounds and leaching of essential elements) on one hand while on the other hand it may become a permanent sink of pollutants that is difficult to remove/separate from soil. So it is different from other sources of organic matter and also from soil organic matter.