Biochar amendment improves degraded pasturelands in Brazil: environmental and cost-benefit analysis

Abstract

Most deforested lands in Brazil are occupied by low-productivity cattle ranching. Brazil is the second biggest meat producer worldwide and is projected to increase its agricultural output more than any other country. Biochar has been shown to improve soil properties and agricultural productivity when added to degraded soils, but these effects are context-dependent. The impact of biochar, fertilizer and inoculant on the productivity of forage grasses in Brazil ( Brachiaria spp. and Panicum spp.) was investigated from environmental and socio-economic perspectives. We showed a 27% average increase in Brachiaria production over two years but no significant effects of amendment on Panicum yield. Biochar addition also increased the contents of macronutrients, soil pH and CEC. Each hectare amended with biochar saved 91 tonnes of CO 2 eq through land sparing effect, 13 tonnes of CO 2 eq sequestered in the soil, equating to U$455 in carbon payments. The costs of biochar production for smallholder farmers, mostly because of labour cost, outweighed the potential benefits of its use. Biochar is 617% more expensive than common fertilizers. Biochar could improve productivity of degraded pasturelands in Brazil if investments in efficient biochar production techniques are used and biochar is subsidized by low emission incentive schemes.

Brazil’s sugarcane embitters the EU-Mercosur trade talks

“…Consequently, this strategy could represent an opportunity for the Brazilian sugarcane industry to meet the rising demand for ethanol and sugar while achieving the country’s sectoral mitigation objectives (i.e., the NDC and Low Carbon Agriculture 39 targets) along with the compliance with national and international environmental standards (i.e., REDII and RenovaBio environmental criteria). To this end, taking a long-term perspective, the amendment of more sustainable supplies, such as biochar, could further increase soil proprieties and agricultural productivity of degraded pasturelands, while contributing to lower emissions 40 , 41 . The potential conversion of the Amazon and Cerrado native vegetation to sugarcane could be marginal, resulting in limited LULUCF emissions.…”

Modified Biochar—A Tool for Wastewater Treatment

“…According to Jirka and Tomlinson [67], the global mean price of 1 • 10 3 g of biochar is 2.65 USD. Vochozka et al [68] report 0.3-0.5 EUR per 1 • 10 3 g. Latawiec et al [69] claim that the potential benefits of its use outweigh the The price of biochar is the main factor to consider, from an economic perspective, when implementing this technology. However, these costs can vary greatly over time, location, and input materials.…”

“…According to Jirka and Tomlinson [67], the global mean price of 1 × 10 3 g of biochar is 2.65 USD. Vochozka et al [68] report 0.3-0.5 EUR per 1 × 10 3 g. Latawiec et al [69] claim that the potential benefits of its use outweigh the great labor cost, and as a result biochar is 617% more expensive than common fertilizers. Nonetheless, biochar should not be valued via conventional nutrient optics (as fertilizer), nor as a biofuel.…”

“…Therefore, its use and importance has increased in recent years [73]. Given the additional benefits from biochar use, such as carbon sequestration, farmers could also benefit from eventual payments for ecosystem services to leverage the costs and contribute to global goals to combat climate change [69].…”

Biochars Originating from Different Biomass and Pyrolysis Process Reveal to Have Different Microbial Characterization: Implications for Practice

“…Biochar, carbonous substrate originating from the process of pyrolysis [1] has been demonstrated to have various potential benefits such as increasing agricultural yields [2][3][4], soil and sediment remediation [5] or improving animals health in livestock farming [6]. There has been also a recent interest in using biochar in construction [7] with potential benefits for diminishing humidity inside buildings, thermal isolation and fungus development control [8][9][10][11][12].…”