BIOCHAR
AN ANCIENT SOLUTION MAKING A MODERN COMEBACK
WHAT IS BIOCHAR?
Biochar is far from a new discovery. Its history stretches back more than 2,000 years to pre-Columbian communities in the Amazon, where people created exceptionally fertile soils, now known as Terra Preta or Amazonian Dark Earth. These soils contain charcoal-like material alongside other organic and mineral components, and many have retained their distinctive properties for centuries.
Modern biochar is produced by heating plant-derived organic matter in a low-oxygen environment through a process known as pyrolysis. This creates a carbon-rich, porous material that can remain stable in soil for long periods.
When appropriately selected and applied, biochar can help improve certain soil properties, including water and nutrient retention, while providing habitat for beneficial soil microorganisms. Its effectiveness depends on the biochar itself, the surrounding soil and how it is used.
At Vale Soil Solutions, enriched biochar can be incorporated into specialist soil treatments to help improve root-zone conditions and support long-term soil health where appropriate.
The Benefits of Enriched Biochar
Supporting Soil Health and Storing Carbon
Biochar offers the potential to improve soil conditions while helping to store carbon in the ground. Produced through pyrolysis, biochar contains relatively stable forms of carbon that can remain in soil for long periods, helping to reduce the amount of carbon that would otherwise return to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. The overall climate benefit depends on how the biochar is produced, sourced and applied.
Improving Soil Structure and Water Retention
Enriched biochar has a porous, honeycomb-like structure that can help improve certain soil properties, including aeration, water retention and nutrient availability. Its effectiveness depends on the characteristics of the biochar and the soil into which it is incorporated.
Creating a Supportive Environment for Soil Life
The pores within biochar can provide habitat for beneficial soil microorganisms. When used appropriately, biochar may support the biological processes that contribute to healthy, functioning soil.
Helping Retain Moisture Around Plant Roots
Biochar can act like a network of tiny reservoirs within the soil, helping retain moisture and, in suitable conditions, making more water available to plant roots for longer. This may be particularly beneficial during drier periods, depending on the soil type and the properties of the biochar.
A Long-Term Approach to Soil Health
BIOCHAR
Biochar is a stable form of soil carbon with a naturally porous structure that can help improve soil aeration, water-holding capacity and nutrient retention. Its intricate pore network also provides a potential refuge for beneficial soil microorganisms, supporting a healthy and biologically active soil environment.
Biochar: a building block for healthier, more resilient soils.