What do you think?
Rate this book
Biochar for Environmental Management: Science and Technology
The unique properties of black carbon-rich soils have only recently been recognized and international efforts have significantly increased to utilize this knowledge to improve agriculture and the environment in several ways.
Biomass-derived black carbon, charcoal or "biochar", as it is nowadays called, can be used as a soil amendment to improve nutrient retention and availability and therefore increase crop yields. Such a use of biochar is a significant advance over conventional organic matter management, as the biochar is more stable in soil and is better able to retain nutrients. In combination with sustainable biomass production, such a biochar sequestration can be carbon negative and therefore be used to actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, with obvious significance for mitigation of climate change. Biochar production can also be combined with bioenergy production through the use of the gases that are given off in the pyrolysis process. This book is the first to synthesize the expanding research literature on this topic. This is all the more important at this juncture in the development of a biochar technology, as it requires an interdisciplinary approach involving engineering, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, economics, and policy. The book provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge of the science and technology of biochar.
<!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
<!-- AddThis Button END -->
Biomass-derived black carbon, charcoal or "biochar", as it is nowadays called, can be used as a soil amendment to improve nutrient retention and availability and therefore increase crop yields. Such a use of biochar is a significant advance over conventional organic matter management, as the biochar is more stable in soil and is better able to retain nutrients. In combination with sustainable biomass production, such a biochar sequestration can be carbon negative and therefore be used to actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, with obvious significance for mitigation of climate change. Biochar production can also be combined with bioenergy production through the use of the gases that are given off in the pyrolysis process. This book is the first to synthesize the expanding research literature on this topic. This is all the more important at this juncture in the development of a biochar technology, as it requires an interdisciplinary approach involving engineering, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, economics, and policy. The book provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge of the science and technology of biochar.
<!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
<!-- AddThis Button END -->
450 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
6 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Johannes Lehmann
64 books13 followersJohannes Lehmann (1929-2011) was a German journalist and non-fiction writer.
Born in India as the son of a missionary Arno Lehmann, he later studied in England and lived most of his adult life in West Germany.
His daughter is author Christine Lehmann.
Born in India as the son of a missionary Arno Lehmann, he later studied in England and lived most of his adult life in West Germany.
His daughter is author Christine Lehmann.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 6, 2011
This is the motherload of scientific information about biochar (although it's still all geared to the large-scale.) I read a couple of chapters online and should probably check the book out to read the rest of it one of these days.
August 20, 2012
This is an excellent book for anyone interested in biochar.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews