Fungi on New Fungi on New Char Char Micropores Micropores Fungi on 100 Year Old Fungi on 100 Year Old Char Char biochar is sought out by mycorrhizal biochar is sought out by mycorrhizal fungi, fungi, other microbes and plant root hairs other microbes and plant root hairs “ “ microbial reef microbial reef ” ” Terra Preta Terra Preta is equivalent to coral reef in the sea is equivalent to coral reef in the sea click to continue Terra Preta Terra Preta Biochar added to soil Biochar added to soil provides nutrient & water storage provides nutrient & water storage for mycorrhizal fungi for mycorrhizal fungi Hyphae invade biochar pores Hyphae invade biochar pores and support spore reproduction and support spore reproduction Makato Ogawa Makato Ogawa Kansai Environmental Kansai Environmental Research Research Sponge Sponge Substrate Substrate Chunks of Char Chunks of Char water & nutrient adsorption water & nutrient adsorption internal storage internal storage capacity capacity slow, gradual slow, gradual release release residential space for residential space for microbes microbes nutrient supplies for soil nutrient supplies for soil life life stable, complex communities stable, complex communities