The use of biochar to enhance carbon sequestration in peatlands.

Abstract

Peatlands are vast stores of carbon (C) but sequester C slowly relative to the rate of anthropogenic climate change. To maximise the considerable C storage potential of peatlands, this study assessed whether applying additional C to a peatland would enhance it as a C sink. Biochar is a refractory form of C which is formed from pyrolysis of woody biomass and is often proposed as a nature based C store. Biochar has never been applied to a peatland before so its effects on peatland water quality, gas fluxes and vegetation were not known.
This study assessed the impact of biochar application on a lowland raised bog through measurement of water quality, gas flux, and vegetation indices. Analysis of water quality found that, although biochar caused significant changes in some parameters, these changes were small and within the range of other peatland settings: therefore, not making any tangible difference to the function of a peatland. Similarly, increased positive net ecosystem exchange (NEE) flux into the atmosp