The role of biochar in land and ecosystem sustainability

Charcoal used in agriculture was originally called “charcoal for agricultural use” or “agrichar”. In 2006, Lehmann et al. proposed the term “ biochar” (i.e. charcoal or biomass-derived black carbon) and they recommend its application not only for the benefit of crop production but also for carbon sequestration (Lehmann et al., 2006). They established an International Biochar Initiative in 2007 and expanded the movement all over the world; the reviews of biochar research were published as a monograph edited by soil scientists (Lehmann and Joseph, 2009). Responding to this activity, the Japan Biochar Association was established in April 2009.

Related Subject(s): Economic and Social Development