biochar Archives

Microwave soil heating can reduce arsenic absorption of rice plants

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Dr Graham Brodie researches microwave heating of soil and the application of microwave-generated biochar as a means of reducing arsenic absorption in rice.

Rice is a staple food for much of the world’s population, but it is also highly prone to absorbing environmental arsenic compared to other cereal crops. Biochar from microwave-assisted pyrolysis – microwave heating under low oxygen conditions – has been shown to remove contaminants from soil. Microwave soil heating also increases crop growth. Dr Graham Brodie, Governor of the International […]

Nature as an asset: Natural capital in ‘FutureCity’ Shimokawa

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Professor Mitsuru Osaki and Mr Takashi Kasuga have developed a way to quantify natural capital, measuring the town of Shimokawa in Japan.

Natural capital provides the goods and services that sustain humankind, but accurately quantifying it remains problematic. Professor Mitsuru Osaki (Hokkaido University) and Mr Takashi Kasuga (NPO FutureForest Institute) have addressed this issue by focusing on Shimokawa, a town in northern Hokkaido, Japan. Shimokawa aims to achieve economic stability by using its forest resources. Quantifying 19 variables related to agriculture and […]

Rice husk biochar with beneficial microbes: A promising agricultural inoculant and soil ameliorant

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Rice husk biochar has traditionally been used in Japan as a soil ameliorant.

The research of Shohei Ebe and Takashi Ano from Kindai University into the relationship between a microbe and rice husk biochar (RHB) suggests the latter is an activator of beneficial microbes that can be used to combat phytopathogenic microorganisms. Having isolated a novel lipopeptide producing Bacillus sp. that benefits from RHB presence in the soil, these are promising insights into […]

Electron storage and transfer in biochar materials

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Biochar is receiving considerable attention because of its potential use in carbon capture, crop production, water quality control and environmental restoration. For a long time, its activity has been attributed to its adsorption properties. Recent work, however, indicates that biochar plays a much more active role in promoting abiotic and microbial transformations in water and soils, acting as a powerful […]