CESAM is launching a new activity as part of the “Learn with CESAM” initiative, continuing its efforts to promote scientific literacy and environmental education among children, young people and families. Entitled “Can Biochar Help (or Not) Soil Microorganisms?”, this fourth activity invites participants to discover how biochar can influence the soil and the microorganisms that live in it.
Through an educational, dynamic and accessible approach, the activity starts from a simple idea: soil is like the skin of the planet. It protects, supports food production and is home to an enormous diversity of organisms, but it can also become degraded. One of the solutions being studied to improve soil quality is the use of biochar, a carbon-rich material that can be produced from biomass, including forest shrubs such as acacias.
The activity showcases the work carried out by Ana Carolina Pedrosa Morim and Márcia Santos, PhD students at CESAM/DAO, and by Flávio Gonzaga Castro Santos Silva and Luís António da Cruz Tarelho, professors at the Department of Environment and Planning of the University of Aveiro and researchers at CESAM.
In this work, the researchers sought to understand what happens to soil microorganisms when biochar is mixed into the soil, testing different biochar production temperatures, particle sizes and application rates. The results show that biochar can improve certain soil properties, namely pH and water retention capacity, but its use can also affect microbial activity and make microorganisms less efficient under certain conditions.
In this way, younger participants are encouraged to understand that an environmental solution can have different effects and that factors such as the characteristics of the biochar and the amount used are important. The activity thus demonstrates how scientific research makes it possible to assess benefits and potential impacts before implementing solutions aimed at improving soil quality.
As with the other activities in the “Learn with CESAM” project, this activity seeks to bring science closer to everyday life through accessible content and educational challenges, encouraging curiosity, critical thinking and interest in environmental issues.
The “Learn with CESAM” initiative is part of CESAM’s 25th anniversary celebrations and aims to bring scientific research closer to society by making knowledge more accessible and promoting citizen participation in issues related to the environment and sustainability.
The activity “Can Biochar Help (or Not) Soil Microorganisms?” is now available online here.