Quantifying the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Benefits of Utilising Straw Biochar and Enriched Biochar

This study investigated the carbon footprint of two different biochar production systems for application to paddy fields. The impacts of using rice straw-derived biochar in raw form (System A) were compared with those arising from using rice straw biochar enriched with lime, clay, ash and manure (System B). The GHG abatement of the management of one Mg of rice straw in Systems A and B was estimated at 0.27 and 0.61 Mg CO2-eq, respectively, in spring season, and 0.30 and 1.22 Mg CO2-eq in summer. The difference is mainly due to greater reduction of soil CH4 emissions by enriched biochar.