Biochar, the BIO-based product of pyrolysed biomass applied to soils, has gained the interests of land managers and scientists seeking to increase soil fertility and agricultural productivity

While studies in agricultural systems have generally shown that biochar increases productivity, results have varied considerably across different kinds of crop systems, and the soil and biological processes underlying such changes remain poorly understood. Nevertheless there is great interest among producers in using biochar as a natural soil amendment to enhance agro-ecosystem productivity and contribute to the sustainability of small to mid-sized farms. The objective of this project is to test the effectiveness of biochar in enhancing soil fertility, productivity, and soil carbon storage in diverse managed ecosystems, including pasture, vegetable gardens, and forests across a national network of sites. We will use locally-sourced material as feedstock to support biochar production and applications in a network of small- and mid-size agricultural and forestry operations across the U.S. We will conduct experiments to compare the effects of different biochar source materials and activation methods on soil fertility, primary productivity and examine the mechanisms by which biochar influences nutrient availability cycling and soil microbial communities. The results of this research will advance the understanding of how biochar works to promote soil fertility and productivity and hence be of interest to producers, land-managers and soil scientists alike. Working directly with landowners and managers we will seek to provide practical information to producers about the effective use of locally-sourced biochar to enhance their operations and potentially stimulate BIO-based product development and markets in rural communities.