An assessment of the benefits and issues associated with the application of biochar to soil
- Key Staff:
- Dr. Saran P. Sohi, Prof. Ondřej Mašek, Jason Cook
- Timescale:
- April 2009 - April 2010
- Funding:
- Defra and DECC
This report was commissioned by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to undertake a comprehensive review of the issues surrounding deployment of biochar in the UK. This included a review of the functions and impacts of biochar in soil, biochar production, regulation and risks, application methods, Lifecycle Analysis, cost-evaluation, monitoring, verification, accounting and reporting, deployment scenarios in the UK context, expert perceptions and research needs.
Check the report at : http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&ProjectID=16168&FromSearch=Y&Publisher=1&SearchText=soil&SortString=ProjectCode&SortOrder=Asc&Paging=10#Description
Publications:
Oliver, I., Cross, A., Searl, A., Shackley, S., Smith, C., Sohi, S. The State of Scotland's Soil: Emerging Issues, SEPA, 2011
Shackley S, Carter S, Sims K and Sohi S P 2011 Expert perceptions of the role of biochar as a carbon abatement option with ancillary agronomic and soil-related benefits, Energy & Environment 22(3): 167-187
Shackley, S., Hammond, J., Gaunt, J. & Ibarrola, R. (2011), The feasibility and costs of biochar deployment in the UK, Carbon Management, 2(3): 335 - 356