Abiotic and Microbial Oxidation of Laboratory-Produced Black Carbon (Biochar)

Pyrogenic or "black" carbon is a soil and sediment component that may control pollutant migration. Biochar, black carbon made intentionally by biomass pyrolysis, is increasingly discussed as a possible soil amendment to increase fertility and sequester carbon. Though thought to be extremely refractory, it must degrade at some rate. Better understanding of the rates and factors controlling its remineralization in the environment is needed. Release of CO(2) was measured over 1 year from microbial and sterile incubations of biochars made from a range of biomass types and combustion conditions. Carbon release from abiotic incubations was 50-90% that of microbially inoculated incubations, and both generally…

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  National Science Foundation