Biochar

You may have heard of Biochar an amazing product for improving soil fertility.
So what is Biochar?  It  is a specific type of carbon rich charcoal that is made by pyrolysis, which is when an organic matter like wood chips is heated in the absence of oxygen. Purity-wise, it does not degrade, so it permanently improves the soil quality, so the life cycle of biochar continues for centuries. It is the pyrolysis process that gives the biochar its physical attributes include being black, lightweight, fine-grained and having a large surface area. The production of biochar is known as a carbon-negative process as well as a carbon sink because it reduces the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. Once biochar, an organic material,  is put back into the ground it can last for thousands of years.

We have made a number of different types of biochar kilns and been producing biochar for the garden at Struan Lodge.

By removing the gases in the wood, a vast surface area of cavities and micropores is created. This substance is inert and then needs to be inoculated with beneficial organisms – bacteria, fungi, nematodes and protozoa.This is done by adding the biochar to compost for a number of weeks.

One of the most common uses for biochar is as a natural soil improvement aid and can have a beneficial effect on soil conditions. The use of biochar can improve soil health by increasing nutrient retention and water filtration as well as enhancing beneficial soil microbes, just like the Terra Preta soils of the Amazon. Additionally, biochar can help to reduce compaction and increase drainage in soils. Biochar is also beneficial for soil health and fertility. This is because biochar can hold onto nutrients and moisture, making it available for plants to use.