Biochar for agriculture and energy

Kseniia Paramonova

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Infertility of soils occurs worldwide. Soils are diversified and there are several factors of their infertility such as low organic carbon content, high turnover rates of organic matter or contamination, etc. Along with global climate change and energy crisis nowadays, there is an effort for widespread use of effective sustainable technologies. One of the promising solutions is biochar application in agriculture and alternative energy. The modern biochar concept was drawn from the Terra Preta de Indio concept. Biomass converted to biochar has unique characteristics. Due to these characteristics, the benefits of biochar usage are multiple: soil improvement, climate change mitigation and production of bioenergy, and it has a great potential in both developing and developed countries. Research in the field of biochar production and application has increased significantly in the recent years.This Bachelor Thesis entitled "Biochar for agriculture and energy" was written in the form of literature review based on search and analysis of information from scientific articles obtained from the well-known professional journals. The present Thesis summarizes information about biochar applications in sustainable agriculture as an important contributor to soil health and productivity as well as in bioenergy. The origin of biochar and the main biochar production technology such as slow pyrolysis were described. Various pyrolysis parameters and different types of a feedstock were analyzed and in addition their influence on some biochar’s properties was mentioned. The environmental impacts of biochar usage in agriculture and renewable energy sector has commonly got positive nature. Environmental performances are reviewed and evaluated, including carbon sequestration, reduction of greenhouse gases emissions and agricultural waste management. On the other hand, some environmental risks exist and they have been discussed, too.

Keywords

terra preta, biomass, sustainable farming, bioenergy, pyrolysis

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 20. 4. 2018

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedúci: Ing. Tatiana Ivanova, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme / odbor:
Tropical Agriculture / Sustainable Development in the Tropics and Subtropics