Biochar Demonstration Project: June 2015

June 13, 2015

Planting the Beds

Each bed was planted with equal numbers of carrots, beans, tomatoes (Sweet Millions), zucchinis, hard squash, Tanja cucumbers, red and white onions, and Anaheim peppers.

June 2, 2015

Adding the Compost

The finished compost was mixed in with the top 6” of both beds, the biochar-charged compost in the bed on the left, and we started planting.

This project is designed to compare plant growth between raised beds prepared with and without biochar (agricultural charcoal). The beds contain a nearly identical mixture of topsoil, compost, amendments, and plants. The pH and soil chemistry are monitored and adjusted as necessary, and plant growth documented.

Biochar is a fine-grained, carbonized product similar in appearance to common charcoal. It is made by heating a 'biomass' such as scrap wood, chips, garden debris, forest slash, etc. to near-combustion using little to no oxygen in a process called 'pyrolysis', or 'gasification'.

As a soil amendment, the structure of biochar adds porosity, as well as water and nutrient retention. It also stimulates the activity of agriculturally important microorganisms, increases CEC (cation exchange capacity), and raises soil pH.

For more information, contact nobaily@gmail.com.