Blending Biochar into Soil
Biochar can be chunky like torrified wood, but it can also be light and fluffy, and difficult to work into the soil without blowing all over the place. Simply adding water to it doesn't help, as it tends to float at the to of the water and that can make it even more difficult to work with.
The soils I work with tend to have a fair amount of clay in them, and I've found that mixing the dry, fluffy biochar with a relatively small amount of muddy clay helps binds the char into a more manageable muddy mix that you can then evenly mix with compost and your other soil components when either side dressing or building planting mix with char integrated in it.
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1 comment postedShenandoah Ornamental Gardens Demonstration
I'm running a demonstration project this year for www.BiocharMerchants.com .
One half of my annual plantings of ornamental flowers will be planted with biochar/compost, the balance compost only. The expected resulting photos of my more symmetrical gardens should make for good advertising. I told my clients that their only sacrifice would be symmetry for science.
Char Mix;
1:3 ratio Char to finished poultry litter compost + Ag gypsum + Ironite + time release NPK+micro-nutrient fertilizer
Control Mix;
finished poultry litter compost + Ag gypsum + Ironite + time release NPK+micro-nutrients
To be amended with equal volume of topsoil, at planting, for a root zone application rate of 17% char by volume.
Should have some great PR pics for Mike Urban in 4 months
I find that a 1:3 ratio, raw char to compost(30-40% moisture), provides a very workable material.
This project has reinvigorated me to get out the door for my 32th year of building flower gardens for rich people.
Cheers in the Gardens,
Erich