Biochar is a carbon product made from organic material. It's produced through a process called pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is the decomposition of organic matter at very high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. It changes the chemical structure of the organic matter undergoing the process.
Benefits of Biochar
- Carbon sequestration
- Improvements in plant growth and yield
- Improvements in soil nutrient retention
- Improvements in soil moisture retention
- Improvements in soil structure
- Provides habitat for soil microorganisms
- Reduces burning and landfilling of agricultural and forestry wastes
- Reduce soil pH
Uses for Biochar
- Amending soils
- Boosts compost benefits
- Water filtration for bioswales, rain gardens, and large filtration systems
- Manure management in animal confinement
- Odor control of animal bedding, slurry ponds, basements and feedlots
- Erosion control at construction sites or areas with highly erodible soils
- Used in concrete instead of ash
Biochar Fact Sheets for Industries
Factsheets have been developed by Nebraska Forest Service, US Biochar Initiative, Dovetail Partners, USDA Agriculture Research Service, Cornell Extension and others including biochar users and industry experts to assist others in incorporating biochar into several industry applications. In many cases the use of biochar alleviates the need to use non-renewable, more costly from environmental or monetary perspective, or hard to acquire ingredients currently in use for each sector.
- Stormwater Filter Pollutants with Biochar
- Soil Blends Biochar Increase Plant Survival
- Road Map for Advancing Industry Biochar's Unrealized Potential
- Biochar Improves Manure Management
- Carbon Markets Biochar Removes Carbon
The Great Plains Biochar Initiative (GPBI) aims to improve biochar awareness and market development in the Great Plains.
GPBI aims to improve biochar awareness and market development in the Great Plains. This grant initiative is funded by the USDA Forest Service and is a partnership between the Nebraska Forest Service, Kansas Forest Service, Wilson Biochar Associates, Dovetail Partners and High Plains Biochar, LLC.
Initiative Goals:
- Provide hands-on learning experiences with industry experts
- Provide technical assistance to individuals and organizations interested in utilizing or producing biochar
- Host biochar workshops and trainings
- Offer biochar production and utilization grants
- Identify new markets for biochar
- Promote existing biochar market opportunities
Biochar is still very much a priority for Nebraska Forest Service and we continue to look for more grant funding to expand GPBI. At this time it is technical advice and tracking research and use that can be a benefit to Nebraska, its citizens and the soil environment that ecosystems are reliant upon.
In the spring of 2024, the Nebraska Biochar Initiative was formed and Nebraska Forest Service staff is on the Board of Directors. Watch their website as another resource.
