In my efforts to improve crop yields on a small-scale farm; I have been exploring the use of biochar as a soil amendment. While I’ve heard about its potential to enhance soil fertility & retain moisture, I’m unsure about the best methods for producing and applying it effectively in a tropical climate.
I’m particularly interested in understanding the ideal feedstock materials, proper pyrolysis techniques, and the best ways to incorporate biochar into different soil types. Additionally; I’d like to know if there are any precautions to avoid potential nutrient lock-up or pH imbalances.
If anyone in the community has experience with biochar production or has seen measurable Salesforce Administrator Course benefits in their fields, I’d love to hear your insights.
Hi! The topic of biochar is very interesting to me. I’ve been using it extensively along the Caribbean coast of Panama for a couple of years. Before Panama, I used it in northern Minnesota. I have seen the benefits of soil construction using bio char but it’s definetely a long term investment. You won’t see plant performance improve as quickly as you would by just top dressing with composted manure. However, here in the tropics, the long term soil incorporation of stable organic material that will actually stay in your soil is hard to achieve using only compost. The nature of your soil can be changed with bio char but it will take time.
I’ve always had an abundance of trees and brush to use as fuel to make biochar so I have never bothered to make a highly efficient reburner. I have the fire in a simple hole in the ground (picture a large hole shaped like a bathtub) then used water to extinguish the fire at the appropriate moment. I put the fire out at the point the majority of fuel is burned to being crumbly but not yet white/grey ash. I use a shovel to break up the charcoal into as small of pieces as possible.
I don’t worry if I end up with a significant amount of ash because ash is also very useful for me to buffer the acid soil. One thing I’ve learned is that fresh bio char will lock up a LOT of your available nitrogen if you don’t soak it in a nutrient mixture for a month or two before using or at least add nutrients (manure or compost) at the same time that you apply the bio char. Before I figured this out, I saw nutrient deficiencies in plants after I added biochar.
I believe it’s the most useful when incorporated into the soil profile instead of just put on top of the soil, however, I also add bio char to the surface of the soil as I am adding layers of mulch and compost on top.
I think, at least for my soil here in Panama, the ph needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. Many nutrients and micronutrients remain biologically unavailable to plant’s because the ph is too low. Ash has proven effective. The measured ambient ph of my farm is around 5. It’s now approaching 6 in the areas I’ve been adding ash and bio char. Plant performance has improved dramatically as the ph has climbed closer to my goal of 6.5.
I am very interested to learn more from any other people’s experiences especially in the tropics.
Hi!
I utilize biochar routinely on our model / training farm in South Africa.
I don’t need so much that I have a special pyrolysis technique. My soil is acidic, and so I burn tree prunings that I need to dispose of in any case, and use the wood ash as one of my inputs each time I plant (veggies, maize, cover crops).
I sieve the ash so it’s easy to use, and also to separate any charcoal. The char I then break down into small pieces (round about the size of the grain of rice) and then keep it for the next time we build a thermophilic (hot) compost pile.
I believe there are a number of advantages to utilizing biochar in this way rather than applying it directly to the soil. Firstly, biochar is initially hydrophobic. But by the time the compost is ready to use, it is significantly hydrophilic. Secondly, the main reason biochar is such a powerful soil amendment (other than the water retention) is that it is an ideal habitat for dense populations of beneficial microorganisms , especially bacteria. The composting process inoculates the biochar before it’s added to the soil. The moment you add the compost, the benefits are there for the soil and plants. And, rather than experiencing any nitrogen deficit, you get the opposite effect with the compost.
we have been operating a small biochar production project as part of our ministry in Eswatini .
this is an initiative brought to us from another organization who empowers rural communities to operate community vegetable gardens.
my understanding is that the bio char is more effective if produced\ burnt at lower temperatures so as not to harm the micro structures of the organic material used. we utilize a bio char kiln that was designed and manufactured by Carbon Gold and this uses a leafblower to regulate the temp.
i was personally very skeptical about the value of adding biochar tot he soil so we did a test where we planted 5 tomarillo trees with and 5 without and within 6 months the results were clear, the trees with had about 30% better growth.
definitely agree that you must mix compost or manure with the biochar for it to be effective. i have also seen how it drains the nutrients if not mixed and watered properly.
While I’ve heard about its potential to enhance soil fertility & retain moisture, I’m unsure about the best methods for producing and applying it effectively in a tropical climate.
