BIOCHAR AS A SOIL FERTILIZER AND FOR CARBON SEQUESTRATION

摘要

The main policy driver is the net reduction of atmospheric emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas emitted mainly by burning fossil fuels. Herbaceous plants, or biomass can provide a renewable, and largely carbon-neutral energy source. Different types of energy crops, such as (Miscanthus x giganteus and willow), and forestry/agricultural residues were used as feedstock materials in the study reported here. After pre-treatment, these feedstocks were pyrolysed under different conditions in order to determine the most appropriate procedures for maximal yields of bio-oil, biochar, and gases. The liquid products and gases can be used to obtain energy, or can be chemically converted to give platform chemicals. Biochar, the solid residual pyrolysis product has been shown to enhance plant growth, and it is highly resistant to microbial transformations in soil. A series of analyses have established that the micro and macro elements of biochar from the pyrolysis of Miscanthus improve the microbiological properties of soil. However, in order to obtain the optimum value for soil applications of biochar it is important to establish the preparation criteria that will give rise to properties that will have desired effects. In addition, char amendment effectively constitutes a carbon sequestration process.