Biochar as a replacement for perlite in greenhouse soilless substrates

This masters thesis is receiving praise from the biochar community. Another demonstration of the many commercial niches that biochar may occupy in the near future...
"... Results varied among trials and crops grown. Many biochar-based substrates produced plants with shoot dry mass greater than or equal to the control. These results demonstrate the potential for biochar to replace perlite and eliminate the limestone amendment needed for commercial greenhouse soilless substrates based on sphagnum peat. Soilless substrates containing biochar as a replacement for perlite and limestone can successfully be used for greenhouse plant production."
http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/13399/#!