Mohammad H. Golabi, professor of soil and environmental sciences at the College of Natural and Applied Sciences at UOG, discusses his biochar study with visiting students from Japan in September 2022. ()
Dr. Mohammad H. Golabi, professor of soil and environmental sciences at the College of Natural and Applied Sciences at the University of Guam, was a guest speaker at a sustainability symposium in December 2022 at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan.
Golabi presented on the topic “Sustainability solutions – lessons from Guam: Use of ‘biochar’ in soil carbon management for agricultural sustainability.”
Biochar looks like charcoal but is different because it is made through a process called “pyrolysis” by using plant biomass or any organic material. The carbon content of biochar is much higher than charcoal, according to Golabi.
“Our studies at UOG are basically designed to ‘sequester’ carbon in the soil, thus reducing the carbon dioxide emission from the soil into the atmosphere, thus reducing the effect of CO2 on global warming. Biochar also improves soil health as well as plant health,” according to Golabi.
His audience of students and faculty members in Okinawa showed great interest in learning about “biochar” and its role, not only for agricultural sustainability, but also for reducing the carbon dioxide emission from the soil, thus making the current agricultural practices a "climate-resilient" agriculture, Golabi said.
He is no stranger to the largest public university in Okinawa.
“My acquaintance with the Ryukyus University goes back to several years when a group of faculties from this university visited my labs at the University of Guam,” he said to his audience at the symposium.
He was also invited to Okinawa as part of the Inter-University Exchange Project in January 2021 as a guest lecturer and at other online study programs under the Collaborative Online International Learning at Ryukyus.
