The Google machine yields multiple results for “making your own biochar for soil”.
Seems easy enough, lol.
As with anything on the web, I’d take it with a grain of salt.
The Google machine yields multiple results for “making your own biochar for soil”.
Seems easy enough, lol.
As with anything on the web, I’d take it with a grain of salt.
It’s not quite biochar, but on my 7g & 15g fabric pots I put a generous scoop of coals and ash from our wood stove, and I notice the springtails in /on the coals a lot. The beneficial mite population also seems to be doing especially well, but I don’t have a control group.
5-10% by volume is what I’ve heard on multiple podcasts. I can’t say as I’ve noticed much of a difference… in coco. I also reapply microbes once a week so the microbes will be there whether or not they move into the high rises. As an amendment to soil I can see its benefit. Kick start the microbe population especially in a new mix.
I added a bunch to my worm bins. I guess that is prolly the best way to use it. Let it sit in the worm bin for 3 months or so and then incorporate the castings with the biochar…
I will do a side by side experiment with 10%… the one i got seem to be already preloaded
Biochar can be incorporated into the soil during preparation or used as a cover. The more porous the wood used, the better. Around here, I’ve been using biochar made from bamboo, which is naturally very porous! To charge it, you can use a good solution with microorganisms. Here, I mix it with humus in the compost bin and leave it there!
You can use 20%.
Yes I’ve read this in a tutorial on how to make biochar
I’ve not made it or used it
But some people swear by it
But
The same was said about mushroom compost
I know foop sell it as well
Everybody may be shocked if they knew the average ash/char content of commercial compost.
I have soil test results that reflect the industry standard but would be interested to know what people would guess it is…
There’s a product I really like to use here… It’s a mixture of biochar enriched with fish amino acids, cane molasses, and peat… It’s made by a company that crafts its products in an artisanal way!!!
They also have other excellent products…
I’m looking for Amazon sources Terra preta.
The activated -
ACTUAL STUFF.
NOT HOMEMADE.
The REAL Terra Preta.
It is the microbiome in it that is the key.
The actual stuff is no comparison,
Innoculate your soil = better soil than every kinda stuff under the sun.
I think it would be best if its left untouched. Also they are acclimated to that climate not yours.
For anyone that wants do dig a little deeper.
Diplomarbeit_Bernhard_Hofbauer_Kompost_auf_dem_Weg_zur_Terra_Preta.pdf (2.5 MB)
The conclusion is basically that you can get a microbiome that is pretty similar to the real terra preta if you compost with added biochar and rock dust.
They had the best result with 10% rock dust and 20% biochar per volume of compost.
I have done that and had nutrient lockout issues because biochar raises the ph. I have added some sulphur to mitigate that but i will probably still have to dilute the soil a little bit next season.
For my soil it honestly was not the best idea because my heavy clay soil already holds much water.