Biochars in soils: new insights and emerging research needs Introduction

摘要

The quantity, quality and breadth of research connected to biochar have grown rapidly since 2009/2010 when a number of books and reviews were published, some with policy support (Lehmann & Joseph, 2009; Shepherd, 2009; Sohi et al., 2009; Verheijen et al., 2010), and a European Commission biochar event was held at the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen in 2009. Bi-annual conferences organised by the IBI (International Biochar Institute: http://www.biochar-international.org/) have been superseded by sessions and symposia at many disciplinary conferences. Research networks have emerged, notably a European COST action as well as a number of journal special issues (Pesquisa Agropecu′aria Brasileira, 2012, 47(5); Global Change Biology Bioenergy, 2013, 5(2); Agronomy, 2013, vol. 3(2); Carbon Management, 2014; and a virtual special issue of Soil Biology & Biochemistry. This special issue of the European Journal of Soil Science is the fruit of biochar sessions at the EUROSOIL 2012 conference (held at Bari, Italy).