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W i n e s & V i n e s s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 33 g R A p e g R O w I n g a protocol for biochar produc- tion that all members can use to ensure the integrity of biochar they produce (see references on page 35 for links to IBI and other organizations). The level of interest in bio- char is reflected in the dozens of regional groups around the world that have formed to focus on the production and/or use of biochar. In 2012 the U.S. Biochar Initiative held its annual conference in Sonoma, Calif., hosted by the Sonoma Biochar Initiative. As with other regional groups, the mission of the Sonoma Biochar Initiative is to promote the ethical and sustainable production and use of biochar. Biochar, soil quality and carbon sequestration Experience and research has confirmed that adding biochar to soil improves its quality. Some of the important effects include: • Reduced leaching of nitrogen into groundwater, • Possible reduced emissions of nitrous oxide, • Increased cation-exchange ca- pacity resulting in improved soil fertility, • Improved soil tilth, • Moderating soil acidity, • Increased water retention, • Increased numbers of benefi- cial soil microbes. Biochar improves the quality of any soil, but the biggest effects seem to be when it is added to nutrient-poor soils in areas of low rainfall. Furthermore, research and experience show that charging the biochar with nutrients and/or microbes before soil incorporation has a more significant effect on soil quality than incorporating biochar straight from the production process. Biochar is also thought to provide a great potential for carbon sequestration and reduction in the formation of greenhouse gases. Plants absorb CO 2 during photosyn- thesis, producing plant biomass. Under nor- mal circumstances, the plant biomass dies and gradually decomposes, releasing CO 2 into the atmosphere due to microbial activ- ity. If the biomass is instead turned into biochar, the carbon in the biomass is not released into the atmosphere as CO 2 because pyrolysis occurs in the absence of oxygen. Instead, the carbon is sequestered in biochar, which is extremely stable, and, when mixed with soil, resists decomposition for hun- dreds and possibly thousands of years. Fur- thermore, since biochar retains nitrogen, it is possible that incorporating it in soils will reduce the production of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. There are some downsides to biochar to Pockets of biochar found in soils across the North American prairie were likely created by vegetation fires hundreds of years ago. Use of biochar as a soil amendment has been documented starting as early as 450 BC. illusTraTions By kevin D. Brown / infographic © reD garner