ABSTRACT Variations in rainfall, increased mean surface temperature, persistent drought, reduced soil moisture and nutrient, and crop failures have all been evidently linked to anthropogenic-induced climate change, which impacts food security. Agricultural soils can be used to reduce atmospheric CO2 by altering the physicochemical composition of soil organic matter through biochar soil amendments. This study draws on current literature published online, in peer review journal articles, books, and conference proceedings to assess the implications of biochar soil amendments to enhance soil quality, while reducing atmospheric CO2 concentration. Building on the critical analytical approach, biochar use as soil amendments have been tested to have promising environmental potential, which improves soil quality and quantity thereby enhancing soil moisture status and reduces atmospheric CO2. Analyses of biochar amended soils in terrestrial ecosystems reduces about 12% of the total Carbon (C) emitted through anthropogenic land use change. Biochar amended soil systems are dependable in tracing and quantifying sequestered C and can stay in the soil for thousands of years. The challenge with biochar as soil amendments is the type of biomass that can yield high quality biochar through the pyrolysis process. Key words: Biochar, amendments, regenerative agriculture, food security, climate change, atmospheric CO2, pyrolysis, Carbon, soil moisture.

1. CAN BIOCHAR AMENDMENTS
IMPROVE SOIL QUALITY AND
REDUCE CO2?
A Climate Change Mitigation
Approach through Regenerative
Agriculture
Charcoal remedies, 2013
A Final Review Research Project for
Climate Change, Energy, and
Development taught by
Dr. Jennie C. Stephens, Ph.D.
Presented By
Jenkins Macedo, M.A. IDSC
December 6, 2013
BLACK IS
THE NEW
GREEN

2. The Biochar Blues
First you take a big old drum
Then fill it full of dry cow dung
Make sure the lid’s on really tight
Then just stick in a small stove pipe
Light a fire under the drum
Cook that cow dung till it’s done
Open the door and there you are
What you’ve got is biochar
-International Biochar Initiative (IBI)
Source: Fiona Harvey, 2009. http://astraea.net/blog/?p=631

3. SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND & CONTEXT
o Scientific consensus on anthropogenic-induced
GHG emissions (IPCC, 2013).
o Annual CO2 increased by 3% since 2000
(IPCC, 2013; Woolf et al., 2010).
o Increased surface temperature impacts
ecosystems regimes, biodiversity, soil organic
matter, reduces soil moisture status and crop
productivity (Brown & Funk, 2009b, 2010d;
Gregory et al., 2005).
o Agricultural productivity contributes about
24% of GHG emissions (Searchinger et al.
2013; Vermeulen et al., 2012; EPA, 2011):
• 13% MH4 & N2O livestock, fertilizer
applications, and other agrochemicals.
• 11% CO2 allocated to operating farm
machineries and tillage.
• 75% of the total global land use change
is attributed to agriculture (Vermeulen et
al., 2012; EPA, 2011).
Recent Global Monthly Mean CO2
Source:
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/
trends/global.html

4. CURRENT CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION APPROACHES
Mode of capturing and storing CO2
o Oceanic
o Pedologic
o Biotic systems
o Geological formations
Proposed Approaches
o Carbon capture and storage (Stephens & Verna, 2006; Robertson et al.
2006).
o Geo-engineering (Pacala & Socolow, 2004; Crutzen, 2006); Bengtsson,
2006).
o Eco-Efficient Agriculture (Wilkins, 2008; Keating et al. 2010; Lal, 2010b).
o Energy Technology Innovation Systems (Gallagher et al. 2012).
o Renewables and Nuclear Energy (Ausubel, 2007; Waide & Gerundino 2007).
o Biochar Amendments (a win-win-win approach) (Lehmann, 2007; Laird,
2008; Woolf et al. 2010; Ippolito et al. 2012).

5. RESEARCH QUESTION
Can biochar amendments improve soil
quality and reduce carbon dioxide
emissions as a regenerative approach to
mitigate climate change?

6. WHAT IS BIOCHAR?
Biochar:
is the carbon-rich product
when biomass (such as
wood, manure or crop
residues) is heated in a
closed container with little
or no available air
(Lehmann & Joseph, 2012).
Source: http://www.biochar-international.org/technology/feedstocks
Temperature range =(400–500 °C (752–932 °F) (Biochar)
> 700 °C (1,292 °F) (Liquid/gas fuels)

7. PYROLYSIS SYSTEMS
Michigan Biochar Group International Biochar Initiative Hawaii Biochar Project
Biochar Production in Serbia Biochar Farms

8. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
o Indigenous land management
practices in the Northern
Brazilian Amazonia terra preta
soils (Lehmann et al., 2003;
Fraser et al., 2011).
o Japan (Ogawa & Okimori,
2010).
o Africa (Cornelissen et al.
2013).
Source: Woolf et al., 2010

9. Flowchart Illustrates inputs, process, outputs, applications and
impacts on global climate
Source: Woolf et al. 2010

10. BIOCHAR IS CARBON-NEGATIVE
Diagram Source: Courtesy of Nature Publishing Group posted at http://www.biochar-international.org/
biochar/carbon

11. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF BIOCHAR
o 2050 2.2 gigatons of Carbon will be sequestered
o 12 percent of global GHG emissions could be offset with biochar.
o Enhances soil fertility, increases crop productivity, preserves
agricultural lands, and reduces agro-chemicals usability.
o Retains soil water, prevents nutrients from leaching, and preserves
groundwater resources.
o Sustainable use agricultural wastes (plants & animals biomass) to
generate bioenergy, soil fertility management, and reduce Carbon.
o Discourages deforestation by enhancing degraded croplands.
o Removes heavy metals on soil/or water.

12. THE ESSENTIAL STABILITY OF BIOCHAR
Lehmann et al. 2006. Mitigation & Adaptation
Strategies for Global Climate Change 11, 403-427

13. CHALLENGES OR LIMITATIONS
o Biochar scalability
o Financing biochar research and development
o Establishment of standardized tests, tracking systems,
classification systems, sustainability criteria and assessment
for biochar production and application.
o High yield biomass classifications product
o The chance of producing biomass solely for biochar
production could potentially impact crop production (e.g.
ethanol production).

14. RESEARCH QUESTION REVISITED
Can biochar amendments improve soil
quality and reduce carbon dioxide
emissions as a regenerative approach to
mitigate climate change?

15. CONCLUSION
Source: UK Biochar Research Center, 2013

16. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
o Investment in pilot projects in developing countries
o Definitions, standards, and guidelines.

17. Bibliography
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