Effect of Biochar on Carrot Production

Abstract

<p>Environmental and economic factors are encouraging research into biofuel technologies. One such technology is gaining interest because of its potential to utilize waste streams as well as low quality biomass difficult to process into ethanol. This technology is known as pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is the burning of biomass in a low oxygen environment. Biochar is a byproduct of the pyrolysis process. Biochar has shown potential to improve plant growth in marginal soils. Little research has looked at the effect of growing root crops in soils amended with biochar, or on how biochar might affect the post-harvest quality of root crops like carrots.</p>