A new global analysis published in Biochar found that warming significantly increases CO2 emissions from biochar-treated soils, especially in croplands where emissions rose by 117.5%. The study reviewed 2079 observations from 32 peer-reviewed studies and warns that current carbon accounting may overestimate biochar's climate benefits if future warming is not factored in. Researchers recommend using non-woody feedstocks, lower pyrolysis temperatures, and optimized application rates to reduce warming-driven carbon loss. The findings highlight the need for site-specific biochar strategies and integrating warming effects into life-cycle assessments for more realistic carbon removal estimates.
