What is BioChar?
BioChar is the resulting charcoal made by burning wood through the process of pyrolysis (burning at a high temperature without oxygen). BioChar on it’s own is not an ideal soil amendment. It is a carbon rich “bank” that has the capability to hold moisture, nutrients and offer a superior environment for microbial growth. If you put straight BioChar in your soil, it will get right to work soaking up the moisture and nutrients in your soil. But wait, this isn’t necessarily a good thing! BioChar does such a great job sucking up nutrients that adding straight BioChar can actually rob your plants of essential nutrients. Here at The Dirt Store, we inoculate the BioChar with high quality compost, rendering it “fully charged” - packed with beneficial nutrients, microbes and ready to deliver these important plant nutrients directly to your garden. The addition of inoculated BioChar to your garden will increase crop yields, help retain nutrients, increase moisture and provide better drainage with less compaction.
The History of BioChar
In the Amazon Basin, BioChar dates back at least 2,500 years where narrow bands of black earth called “terra preta” were first scientifically noted in the 1960s. The terra preta was created by partially-burned coals from cooking fires and other burning that accumulated over many years. Terra preta soils are exceptionally fertile and productive, with very stable organic content.
