Biochar improves soil health microbially, physically, and chemically. It is a material that is carbon-rich. A heating process known as pyrolysis creates biochar. It is heating organic matter (such as wood, crop residues, manure, or any organic material) in the absence of oxygen.

But not all biochar is the same or for the same end-use. There isn’t biochar; there are biochars - plural. The feedstock, temperature, and time spent in pyrolysis all impact the finished biochar product.

The temperature affects the properties of the finished biochar product. For soil health in agricultural and gardening applications, low or medium temperature pyrolysis biochar is the best (temperatures from 580-1200 degrees Fahrenheit).  At these temperatures, most of the volatile compounds are destroyed. The chemical bonds are broken, and the volatile organic compounds fuel the pyrolysis. 

These biochars are ideal for agricultural and soil enhancement uses. They have high porosity (lots of pore spaces) for nutrients and microbes to hang out until plants signal that they need them for optimal growth and fruiting.  Learn more about soil microbes here.

The #1 reason is how much it improves soil health. Biochar acts as a luxury condo for beneficial soil microbiology. Whenever you have a strong population of beneficial microbes in your soil, there’s little real estate for pathogens. That helps your plant health and decreases the pesticides and fungicides you need. 

The immense porosity of biochar improves soil structure by breaking up clay and adding organic matter to sandy soil. With better soil structure, you have improved nutrient retention, increased water-holding capacity, and an increased cation exchange capacity. 

Biochar sequesters carbon, and your fields and gardens can be carbon sinks. It helps combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from organic matter that otherwise would be decomposing. Biochar is the pyrolysis of organic material in the absence of oxygen.

Biochar acts as a soil conditioner that addresses the limiting factors present in each soil type rather than working through a single mechanism.

The specific mechanisms vary depending on the soil’s existing characteristics. For example, in a clay soil that is always either too wet or too dry, biochar improves drainage by creating air pockets. In a sandy or loam soil, biochar acts like a sponge and soaks up water that otherwise would drain too quickly.

Most biochars are alkaline and can help neutralize acidic soils, which is beneficial for many crops. Even in neutral or slightly alkaline soils, biochar provides buffering capacity that helps stabilize pH over time.

The high porosity of biochar creates binding sites for macro- and micronutrients. This keeps them from leaching away and makes nutrients available to plants when they need them.

Biochar provides several universal benefits that help improve all soil types. It also provides a beneficial microbial habitat. This enhanced microbial activity improves nutrient cycling, disease suppression, and overall soil health across all soil types.

Yes, the pure carbon pore structure in biochar acts like a sponge to soak up the nutrient molecules in the fertilizer.

It can be used with organic or synthetic fertilizers. It is wise not to use fungicides with your fertilizer because the pores in biochar also act as housing for beneficial microbes. When you kill off the pathogens, you also kill the beneficials.

Those pores also have a slight electrical charge and attract nutrient ions. Biochar can store those nutrients until your plants need them, reducing leaching and run-off of expensive inputs.

This is a very frequently asked question! The answer depends on the type of biochar and your goal.

The feedstock (organic material) and pyrolysis time determine the characteristics of the biochar. There isn't a single BIOCHAR but multiple BIOCHARS.

At American BioChar Company, we offer biochar blends in liquid and granular forms that can be applied through a spray system or added to horticultural potting soil. They can also be used as a soil amendment directly in the garden or field.

The rate of application is very low. It costs about $20.00 to cover 1/4 acre with our VITAL Blend 5M liquid biochar blend.

VITAL Blend is a granular blend of activated BioChar and freshwater-sourced Humate. We charge our BioChar with the Humate for a perfect combination; it is foundational, effective by itself, or blended with composts, fertilizers, or other mixtures.

The BioChar is USDA Certified Biobased and the Humate (ACTIV80 AG from Black Earth) is OMRI Listed, and the blend has a pH value of just below 7.0 - perfect for soil nutrient availability. The Biochar increases the soil’s porosity, and the Humate provides nutrients and high-energy food for the soil microbes.

VITAL Blend 5M is the liquid equivalent of the granular formula. It is an organic liquid soil amendment that combines 5 micron-sized, activated BioChar (NAKED Char 5M) with freshwater-sourced liquid Humate (Leonardite).

It can be used in any spray equipment and won't clog. It is a good alternative for foliar applications and new plantings.

We don't use the word organic lightly; our BioChar and Humate are both OMRI Listed, and our BioChar is also IBI Certified (International Biochar Initiative) and USDA BioPreferred.