Biochar made from biosolids, corn stover, eucalyptus, fresh pine or willow pyrolysed at 5508C and incorporated into Manawatu fine sandy loam or Waitarere sand at rates from 0 to 10 t/ha did not significantly affect the germination or early growth (root and coleoptile length, and dry weight) of maize seeds. There were no interactions between type or rate of biochar with soil type. The results suggest that biochar incorporation prior to a maize crop should be investigated as a method of increasing stable soil carbon with the potential for mitigating carbon emissions.