Glossary
Biochar & carbon glossary
In short: plain-language definitions of the biochar, pyrolysis, and carbon-removal terms used across this site.
Terms
- Biochar
- A stable, carbon-rich charcoal made by heating biomass such as crop residue in a low-oxygen kiln. Added to soil it can improve fertility and water retention while keeping carbon locked away for a long time.
- Pyrolysis
- Heating biomass with very little oxygen (roughly 300–700 °C) so it chars into biochar instead of fully combusting to ash and smoke.
- Syngas(synthesis gas)
- The mixture of combustible gases released during pyrolysis. It can often be used to help sustain the process's own heat.
- Feedstock
- The biomass fed into the kiln. For KisanKiln this is primarily agricultural crop residue such as paddy straw.
- Crop residue (stubble)(stubble, agricultural residue)
- The plant material left in fields after harvest. Surplus residue is often burned; pyrolysis converts it into biochar instead.
- Paddy straw
- Rice-crop residue, a major surplus biomass in states such as Punjab and Haryana and a primary feedstock focus for KisanKiln.
- Carbon dioxide removal (CDR)(CDR)
- Activities that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it durably. Biochar is one durable CDR pathway.
- Permanence
- How long removed carbon stays out of the atmosphere. Biochar carbon is considered durable because it resists breaking back down for a long time.
- Measurement, reporting & verification (MRV)(MRV)
- The process of quantifying, documenting, and independently verifying the carbon a project removes — the basis for credible carbon credits.
- CO₂ Removal Certificate (CORC)(CORC)
- A unit issued by the Puro.earth registry representing one tonne of CO₂ durably removed.
- Puro.earth
- A carbon-crediting registry focused on durable carbon removal, including biochar (issuing CORCs).
- Isometric
- A science-led carbon-removal registry that certifies durable removals such as biochar.
- Soil organic carbon (SOC)(SOC)
- The carbon held in soil organic matter. Healthy SOC supports fertility, structure, and water retention.
- Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO)(FPO)
- A collective of farmers organised to pool resources and market access. FPOs can run shared kilns and aggregate carbon credits.
- Custom-hiring centre
- A facility that rents out agricultural equipment as a service, letting farmers access a kiln without buying one.
- Benefit-sharing
- How carbon revenue is split among participants. KisanKiln favours fair benefit-sharing, so the farmers and operators who do the work keep the majority of the value.