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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites
Published on: November 28, 2014
Valuing the Air Quality Effects of Biochar Reductions on Soil NO Emissions
Ghasideh Pourhashem1, Quazi Z Rasool1, Rui Zhang1
1Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute for Public Policy, ‡Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, §Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, ⊥Department of Biosciences, and ∥Department of Chemistry, Rice University , Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
Abstract:
While it is clear that biochar can alter soil N2O emissions, data on NO impacts are scarce. Reports range from 0 to 67% soil NO emission reductions postbiochar amendment. We use regional air quality and health cost models to assess how these soil NO reductions could influence U.S. air quality and health costs. We find that at 67% soil NO reduction, widespread application of biochar to fertilized agricultural soils could reduce O3 by up to 2.4 ppb and PM2.5 by up to 0.15 μg/m3 in some regions. Modeled biochar-mediated health benefits are up to $4.3 million/county in 2011, with impacts focused in the Midwest and Southwest. These potential air quality and health cobenefits of biochar use highlight the need for an improved understanding of biochar's impacts on soil NO emissions. The benefits reported here should be included with estimates of other biochar benefits, such as crop yield increase, soil water management, and N2O reductions.
