In a past blog introducing biochar, I shared some of the broad benefits of biochar which can be made from tree and log residue as well as agricultural residue. There are so many benefits of biochar in the agricultural crop area, so I wanted to share those in more detail.
Image of biochar soil additive.
Some background first:
It is estimated 1/3 of the increased CO2 in the atmosphere is from the soils of the world. This is due to poor agricultural techniques over the centuries and into the present.
- Slash and burn in the tropics, where the higher rainfall amounts, and higher temperatures erode and break down organic matter (OM) more quickly.
- Plowing, abundant use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides in conventional farming in the U.S. and other countries kills many of the living organisms and doesn’t replenish the organic matter (OM).
How can this be reversed? With biochar!
Over 2,500 years ago the indigenous tribes in the Amazon knew about the benefits of biochar. They used it in what we call Terra Preta (Amazon fertile/dark/black/super soil) to overcome the effects of the leaching and breakdown of OM due to the high rainfall (70-100”/year) and temperatures in the tropics. Terra Preta is composed of charcoal (biochar), organic matter (dead plants and manure), bone meal and broken pottery. That soil has survived for 2,500 years even in the high rainfall of the tropics!
Look at the difference Terra Preta makes in the soil of the Amazon.
What is so good about biochar added to soils?
- Pulls excess carbon from the atmosphere.
- Helps create habitat for billions of good fungi, bacteria, and other important soil organisms.
- Raises the pH and cation exchange rate of the soil. This allows more nutrients to be available to plants.
- Improves water and nutrient storage due to its porous structure.
- Also improves drainage and aeration.
- Increases soil nitrogen and phosphorus content, which are necessary nutrients for plant growth.
- Increases base saturation which makes nutrients more available to plants.
- Makes for less leaching of nutrients.
- Increases microbial activity.
- Can decrease chemical fertilizer needs due to more nutrients available in the soil.
- Can immobilize pollutants such as metal, organic pollutants and microplastics.
- Increases plant yield and productivity.
- Increases storage of carbon long term.
- Increases root growth.
Adding biochar and growing OM in the form of cover crops like winter rye etc., then plowing them under can start creating soil like Terra Preta with all its benefits.
Are you interested in trying biochar in your garden? Here is a link of search results of biochar that can be purchased online. Do some investigating before you plunge in to using it. Here are some places to get some information:
Here is a link to a PDF publication called Biochar Guidelines for Agricultural Applications.
Here is a link to a blog from the website Rosy Soil called How to Use Biochar for a Thriving Garden.
