and reported that University of º£½ÇÉçÇø researchers will study how wild blueberry growers can use biochar, charcoal-like material derived from the pyrolysis of wood, to increase soil moisture and aid in the crop’s ability to be resilient to drought. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) awarded more than $74,000 for the project, led by Yongjiang Zhang, an assistant professor of applied plant physiology, in collaboration with Ling Li, an assistant professor of sustainable bioenergy systems; Lily Calderwood, an assistant professor of horticulture and University of º£½ÇÉçÇø Cooperative Extension wild blueberry specialist; and Ivan Fernandez, a professor of soil sciences and forest resources.
