Some of the Benefits of Inoculated Biochar for Agriculture Crops and Horticulture

We are producers and distributers of quality hardwood Biochar.
Not only do we produce the best biochar in the UK (others mix softwoods and feedstock in their biochar), but we are also the most competitively priced.

Our Biochar comes from invasive acacia species in the southwestern grasslands of Southern Africa. It is crushed and sieved to produce a consistency in dimensions. Our small grain (10mm) is for plant growth. And the larger dimension for feedstock supplements and waste/litter management.

We can produce volumes up to 200 tons per month, and as our prices are the most competitive in the market, it makes using our Biochar a very economical soil amendment product.

Ideally, biochar is mixed with fertilisers, mycorrhiza fungi, manure/compost, etc. to charge (inoculate) it before being applied to a field or plants. This is to saturate biochar’s absorption capacity so that it doesn’t absorb the surrounding nutrients of the plants. The biochar then becomes a storehouse for nutrients, a microbial warehouse and a water supplement reservoir.

Listed below are some helpful uses of our Biochar to assist growers in producing the finest crops they can while maintaining soil health.

Some of the Benefits of Inoculated Biochar for Agriculture Crops and Horticulture

· Increases plant growth and fruit yield – The tested benefits of high-grade inoculated Biochar increase crop yield and plant growth. This includes agricultural crops, fruit orchards, horticultural plants, lawns, and pastureland.

· Nematode and pathogen control – Biochar demonstrates the ability to control plant-parasitic nematodes and aids in the controlling of pathogens. The slightly alkaline PH is a huge contributing factor to promoting microbiological activity in the growing medium/soil.

· Amends soil PH – Biochar, having an alkaline PH, can be used to amend acidic soils or other growing mediums.

· Alleviates soil compaction – Because of the porosity nature of biochar, particularly hardwood biochar, its structure is maintained alleviating the surrounding compaction of soils.

· Increases Soil Temperature – It can raise the temperature of the growing medium by up to 2°C to/more than the normal ambient temperature. This can help reduce energy bills. Biochar also evens the extremes of the temperature variances.

· Stores Moisture – Moisture is stored in biochar’s porous composition and releases it as the plants require it. This slow release of moisture continues to supply the plants between irrigation schedules. Therefore, saving on water bills.

· Save on fertiliser/compost/manure applications – Biochar absorbs and stores nutrients in solution like nitrogen and phosphorous and the plants take it up in solution in the water. This saves on fertiliser applications after the first application/inoculation. This also helps prevent run-off of fertiliser in growing mediums. In the case of hydroponics, biochar continually gives out dissolved nutrients between irrigation cycles.

· Absorbs poisons and diseases – The structure of Biochar (particularly dense hardwood biochar) has the capacity to absorb poisons and diseases, like E. coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria in the growing medium, assisting in maintaining a healthy growing environment for the gardener and consumer (in the case of veggies and fruit).

· Produces soil aggregates – It helps to produce soil aggregates which are important for water retention, nutrient availability, and microbial activity. Aerates clay soils.

· Propagates Mycorrhiza Fungi – The porous structure in biochar is a welcoming home for propagating Mycorrhizal Fungi, the symbiotic partner to the rhizome system which nourishes the plants.

· Sequestrates CO₂ & reduces N₂O – Biochar sequestrates CO₂ by keeping the carbon in the ground, but also reduces N₂O (nitrous oxide), which is around 265 times more harmful a greenhouse gas, and H₂S (hydrogen sulphide).

· Composts quicker and richer – Used in composting, biochar increases microbial activity and the increase in heat energises the breakdown of the compost much faster. And because it absorbs noxious greenhouse gasses, the odour of composting is greatly reduced.

· Reduces methane and harmful bacteria – Using biochar in animal waste or contaminated soils reduces methane and harmful bacteria, which ultimately reduces the risk of disease and pollution of water bodies.

· Improves soil characteristics – Nutrients and water are absorbed by the biochar and energise nutrient uptake in plants, thereby changing the characteristics in soil. It also amends salty soils through the same absorption capacity.

· Reduces pollution from fertiliser run-offs and leaching – Since Biochar has such great absorbing capacity, it pulls in nutrients and pesticides that are more than plant/crop requirements, reducing run-offs that would otherwise contaminate water resources.

· Makes fertilisers more efficient – Due to Biochar’s absorption capacity, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium are more readily able to be taken up through the root system, making more efficient use of fertilisers, as only a small percentage of these nutrients are absorbed from the applied fertiliser without biochar.

· Biochar regenerates deoxygenated soils in flooded fields – The use of biochar helps to aerate the soil, holds onto nutrients from fertilisers that would otherwise be leached away, mitigates denitrification and ammonia volatilisation, and anaerobic microbial growth. Thereby rejuvenating and revitalising soils.

· Reduces greenhouse gasses from decomposing stubble – Because biochar is so good at mitigating greenhouse gasses, the application of biochar in the soil of harvested fields reduces the greenhouse gasses given off by the decomposition of stubble after harvest. It also helps the breakdown of the stubble composting by raising the temperature of decomposition.

· Reduces bad odours of decomposing compost – Ammonia and greenhouse gasses are absorbed by biochar, reducing bad odours of decomposition.

· Mitigates the spread of E.coli – Biochar makes the use of compost (especially manure compost) safer for users as it reduces the spread of E. coli bacteria in the compost, making the product a more hygienic substance.

· Balances the Nitrogen and Phosphorous ratio in manure compost – If biochar is used in the early stages of manure compost production from barn/stable bedding, it will capture nitrogen, stemming nitrogen loss through volatilisation of ammonia. This then balances the nitrogen: phosphorous ratio, preventing the leaching of phosphorous and nitrates in the soil.