Biochar Magic: The Smoke and Mirrors behind Biochar Use for Improving Soils.

Biochar has been touted for improving soil water relations, microbial processes, soil fertility, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing crop productivity. But how can such a simple material do so much? Here we explore some fundamentals of various biochars by presenting laboratory images and videos that help explain the smoke and mirrors behind biochar’s magic. We explore biochar’s electronegativity and how it may explain previously published observations, along with biochar’s ability to affect soil water relations.