Did you know that
you can make your own charcoal as well as help
the environment with a Burn Right Products, Hi-Temp.
Mini-Incinerator? By adding a simple retort* to
any one of our models you can create biochar
for your garden and charcoal for your summer
BBQ's.
What is Biochar?
If you type biochar into Google you will see over 15 million results. It’s
a hot topic, especially for those who want to combat global warming and the effects
of
greenhouse gases. The name biochar is a coined term
for charcoal when it is ground up and used as a soil
enhancer. For thousands of years, biochar has been
the result of natural wildfires and historic farming
practices.
Biochar is found naturally
in soils around the world, has been around for thousands
of years and is a very important aspect of agricultural
production. Biochar is made by pyrolysis (thermo-chemical
decomposition) of biomass (biological material from
living or recently living organisms). Natural decomposition
of biomass adds large amounts of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide),
N2O (Nitrous Oxide) and CH4 (Methane) (all dangerous
greenhouse gases) into the atmosphere.
The process of biomass
conversion into biochar reduces the effects of greenhouse
gases that have been emitted into the atmosphere by
trapping them in the ground. Biochar’s
extreme stability allows it to store carbon (carbon
sequestration) and other
greenhouse gases in the ground for hundreds if not thousands of years.
Independent research conducted at Cornell University and the University of Edinburgh
has found that biochar reduces pressure on old-growth forests. As we lose more
and more of our forests worldwide due to logging and conversion into ranch lands,
it is more important than ever that we have alternative sources for carbon sequestration.
Biochar can also reduce greenhouse gases by decreasing the need for
the production and transportation of fertilizers.
Along with its impact on our climate, biochar has received
more and more attention due to its agricultural applications.
In a time when soils are becoming increasingly nutrient-deficient
due to mono-cropping and overuse of fertilizers and
pesticides, biochar’s re-discovery could prove
to be very helpful. Biochar improves water and soil
quality by retaining large amounts of nutrients and
agricultural chemicals. This prevents leaching into
groundwater and the pollution of high quality fresh
water resources. With an increase in soil quality,
agricultural productivity increases, further enhancing
food security for ourselves and millions worldwide.
One of the best things about biochar is its easy application and production.
From backyard gardeners to big production farms, biochar is out there for everyone
to take advantage of. New methods of production have brought the age-old practice
to rural areas of Uganda and suburban neighborhoods of the USA, Canada and many
other countries around the world.
Make sure to
keep checking back to learn more about our new retort* and how you can begin
making biochar and charcoal for your garden and grill.
* Retort - A container
or furnace for carrying out a chemical process to make
biochar and charcoal.
Click The Images
Below To Enlarge
If you would
like to receive information about creating biochar
and charcoal with your
Hi-Temp. Mini-Incinerator,
please send us your information and we will put
you on our mailing list.
