How to make biochar

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Biochar Properties
Microbes Climate
Research report in professional journal
Biogeochemistry Helmholtz Centre for
Environmental Research, Switzerland Technical
University of Dresden, Germany University of
Stockholm, Sweden Max Planck Institute for
Developmental Biology, Germany Leibniz
University, Hanover, Germany
Hyphomicrobium bacteria (yellow) grow on solid
surfaces grains.
When bacteria cells die, they deform or fragment
until only cell envelopes remain.
Contributions of bacteria remnants to soil
fertility are underestimated
Most plant debris in fertile soil is rapidly
processed by microbes (bacteria) leading to more
bacteria and thus, more cell fragments. This
results in more Soil Organic Matter.
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Small fragment shells (red) form micro-particle
matrix in soils.
It was assumed Soil Organic Matter is mostly
decomposed plant matter which directly converts
to humic substances
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Lab experiments and field tests refute this.
Easily degradable plant matter is converted to
microbe biomass, which then provides source
material to Soil Organic Matter
Although most organic carbon is produced mainly
by plants, a large part is residues of bacteria
and fungi. This underscores the importance of
bacteria in all types of soil.
40 of microbe biomass is converted to Soil
Organic Matter Remains of dead bacteria are far
greater in soils than previously assumed.
Further, microbes are important for global
climate Decay of organic matter results in
mineralization CO2 H2O CO2 escaping annually
to the atmosphere from decaying Soil Organic
Matter is in the same range of scale as annual
greenhouse gas emissions.
Soil Organic Matter is the largest fraction of
carbon in the biosphere, and plays key roles in
soil fertility and agricultural yields. Microbes
also a key factor to control CO2 concentration in
the atmosphere. Climatic change can be slowed or
accelerated, according to soil management
PHOTO Burkhard Schmidt-Brücken Institute of
Material Science/TU Dresden COLOR Christian
Schurig/ UFZ
Thus, progress in climate protection isnt
achievable without first protecting soil.
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