Slash-and-char

Slash-and-char is an alternative to <a href="/facts/Slash-and-burn/2Bxk7Rjz">slash-and-burn</a> that has a lesser effect on the <a href="/facts/Natural_environment/NzGY148M">environment</a>. It is the practice of <a href="/facts/Charring/NYRWrM1n">charring</a> the <a href="/facts/Biomass/4VHjaya3">biomass</a> resulting from the slashing instead of burning it. Due to incomplete <a href="/facts/Combustion/ohQoWj8z">combustion</a> (<a href="/facts/Pyrolysis/h1cEegI7">pyrolysis</a>) the resulting residue matter <a href="/facts/Charcoal/tpYGBHTn">charcoal</a> can be utilized as <a href="/facts/Biochar/z16ymbQ3">biochar</a> to <a href="/facts/Soil_conditioner/35DWU3Cc">improve the soil fertility</a>.

In that context, charcoal can be made using numerous and varied methods. The simplest, used historically in <a href="/facts/Charcoal_pile/UzbN1LBH">charcoal production</a>, involves burning a pile of biomass by lighting it on the top (known as "top down burn" or "conservation burn") or an earth cover on the pile of wood, with strategically placed vents. A more sophisticated modern method involves equipment that recuperates and processes strictly all exhaust gases into <a href="/facts/Pyroligneous_acid/r6vKycI9">pyroligneous acid</a> and <a href="/facts/Syngas/VfslxkIN">syngas</a>.
Slash-and-char offers benefits to the environment when compared to slash-and-burn.
It results in the creation of biochar, which can then be mixed with biomass such as <a href="/facts/Crop_residue/Qz0CNVBu">crop residues</a>, <a href="/facts/Food_waste/UM1nKTeP">food waste</a>, or <a href="/facts/Manure/1C2z9u3l">manure</a> and buried in the soil to bring about the formation of <a href="/facts/Terra_preta/W4ppqnYV">terra preta</a>. Terra preta is one of the richest soils on the planet – and the only one known to regenerate itself.
It moreover sequesters considerable quantities of <a href="/facts/CO2_sequestration/WDBvr9eU">carbon</a> safely and beneficially, as opposed to the adverse effects of the slash-and-burn. Switching to slash-and-char can sequester up to 50% of the carbon in a highly stable form.
The nascent <a href="/facts/Carbon_emission_trading/8EzKjxEw">carbon trading</a> market that sponsors <a href="/facts/Carbon_sequestration/WDBvr9eU">CO2 sequestration</a> projects could therefore help supplement the farmers' income while supporting a decrease in the pace of <a href="/facts/Deforestation/L1TNhN9p">deforestation</a> and the development of a more <a href="/facts/Sustainable_agriculture/XLdTEVAC">sustainable agriculture</a>.

Slash-and-char open-in-new

Slash-and-char