Davey SoilCare®: How to Improve Soil Health with Biochar

Описание: Technical Advisor at The Davey Institute Chris-Fields Johnson explains what biochar is, the benefits of biochar, and the difference between biochar vs compost.

What is Biochar?
Biochar is charcoal that is produced in a pyrolysis facility, which is where they heat up the charcoal under low oxygen.

Just to name a few of the many benefits of biochar:
*Helps with nutrient retention
*Remediates salt and heavy metals in the soil
*Prevents soil compaction
*Biochar can be used in lawn care and vegetable gardens too.

What is the Difference Between Biochar and Compost?
Biochar has low nitrogen content versus compost will have a good balance of nitrogen.

Also, when you add biochar to soil it’s a permanent soil amendment, versus compost which will decompose.

What Organic Matter Should We Add to Soil?
There are lots of ways to rebuild your soil to get it back to its natural forest-like type of state.
*Mulch at the surface to gradually increase organic matter (greater details at 00:42:50)
*Directly incorporate materials like compost and biochar into the soil to recreate the A-Horizon (topsoil).
*Inject a liquid form of the organic matter into the soil to help with the soil aggregates

Watch Chris-Field's full interview on soil health here:    • Talking Trees Live: Why is Soil Health Imp...