Biochar is a highly porous, charcoal-like substance produced by heating organic matter (crop residues, wood waste) in the absence of oxygen – a process called pyrolysis.
It has been used by pre-Columbian Amazonian peoples for over 2,000 years to create incredibly fertile soils known as Terra Preta (“dark earth”), and modern soil science has confirmed why it works so well.
Description
Biochar is a highly porous, charcoal-like substance produced by heating organic matter (crop residues, wood waste) in the absence of oxygen – a process called pyrolysis.
It has been used by pre-Columbian Amazonian peoples for over 2,000 years to create incredibly fertile soils known as Terra Preta (“dark earth”), and modern soil science has confirmed why it works so well.
When incorporated into soil, biochar dramatically improves water retention in sandy soils, improves drainage and aeration in heavy clay soils, and creates a permanent habitat for beneficial soil bacteria and fungi. Unlike compost, biochar does not break down it stores carbon in your soil for hundreds of years, making it one of the few agricultural amendments that actively helps address climate change while improving your yields.
- Highly porous structure hosts trillions of microbes
- Increases water retention by 20-40% in sandy soils
- Improves drainage and root aeration in clay soils
- Permanent – remains in soil for 100-1,000 years
- Reduces fertilizer leaching – saves input costs
- Best used as 5-10% of total soil volume
- Charge with compost or fertilizer before applying
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