Biochar

Charcoal that arises from heating and resulting decomposition of plant material in the absence of oxygen, with the process being called pyrolysis. Biochar is porous and can be used as a soil additive to improve water and nutrient retention. In addition, the material can be treated with micro-organisms prior to incorporation into a soil profile, further enhancing soil and plant health. Biochar is defined by the International Biochar Initiative as “A solid material obtained from thermochemical conversion of biomass in an oxygen-16 limited environment”. (https://www.biochar-international.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IBI_Biochar_Standards_V2.1_Final.pdf, accessed 22nd October 2021)