Agriculture: State-of-the-art soil

http://www.nature.com/news/agriculture-state-of-the-art-soil-1.16699

A charcoal-rich product called biochar could boost agricultural yields and control pollution. Scientists are putting the trendy substance to the test.

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Across the United States, sales of this long-lasting soil additive have surged over the past few years, tripling annually since 2008, according to some estimates. The Biochar Company in Berwyn, Pennsylvania — which supplied Flanner's Brooklyn farm — sells it both wholesale and direct to consumers, through outlets including Amazon and some Whole Foods stores. And countries ranging from China to Sweden are using biochar on agricultural fields and city lawns.
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