Agroscope

Increasing BiocharYield in Pyrolysis by Adding Ash

Abstract Wood ash additives increase biochar yield in pyrolysis via catalysis by alkali and alkaline earth metals. However, it remains unclear how ash and biomass properties govern the magnitude of this catalytic effect. Here, we pyrolyzed pelleted and ash-amended woody and grami...

Biochar as a Modulator of Soil Microbial Diversity and Enzymatic Function: Critical Insights and Ecological Implications

Biochar amendments can modify soil microbial communities and extracellular enzyme activities, but reported responses remain heterogeneous across soils, biochar types, and management contexts. This review critically synthesises current evidence to identify the conditions under whi...

Environmental risk assessment for genetically modified microalgae

Advances in genomic techniques have great potential to accelerate the development of the microalgal sector and to address key challenges related to upscaling. Genetically modified microalgae (GMM) can exhibit enhanced biomass productivity, increased accumulation of valuable bioco...

Whole-genome sequencing data confirms the uniqueness of Ireland’s native honey bee

Abstract Recent evidence suggests a rise in the importation of non-native honey bee subspecies into Ireland with an associated potential rise in hybridisation followed by introgression. The purity of the Apis mellifera mellifera (A. m. mellifera) population in Ireland, given its...