Ancient carbon trick could reduce dairy emissions by 84%

Ancient carbon trick could reduce dairy emissions by 84%

Source: https://news.yahoo.com/ancient-carbon-trick-could-reduce-dairy-emissions-161447956.html

Author: Rob Waugh

Biochar has been used by farmers around the world for millennia - but it could offer a way for dairies to reduce their problematic carbon emissions. Biochar is a charcoal-like substance which is produced by burning vegetable matter in a controlled process called pyrolysis which releases little to no fumes. Biochar captures carbon into a stable form that can’t easily escape into the atmosphere. New research has shown that adding biochar to a dairy’s manure-composting process reduces methane emissions by up to 84%, according to a study by University of California, Merced. Scientists believe that biochar – commonly used by gardeners – could be an important way to stop gases such as CO2 being released from soil, according to the World Economic Forum. Life and environmental sciences professor Rebecca Ryals said: "This is a wonderful example of an untapped climate solution.” "Biochar reduces pollutant emissions from open burning of biomass and methane emissions from decaying biomass." "Composting the solid manure isn't common practice, but if we go from stockpiling to composting, now we've gone from a carbon source to a carbon sink.