BioChar Characteristics
Characteristics and Function of Charcoal
From: Makoto Ogawa, Effects of Soil Microbial Fertility by Charcoal in Soil
1. Porous substance with high water and air holding capacity; Suitable habitat for some microbes and plant growth, good material for soil amendment, absorption of chemicals and humidity control
2. High alkalinity; Neutralization of acidic soil and improvement of chemical components of soil and selection of microorganisms
3. Non organic matter ; Exclusion of saprophytes and propagation of autotrophic and symbiotic microorganisms, free living nitrogen fixing bacteria, root nodule bacteria, Frankia and some mycorrhizal fungi
4. Low mineral content ; “Charcoal has no role as a fertilizer”
Composition of bark charcoal %
Carbon:77.58,
Volatile matter:12.92,
Ash: 9.50
Mineral content of ash %
SiO2:36.5
Al2O3:10.9
CaO:19.2
K2O:1.1
Na2O3:5.35
Fe2O3:7.5
MgO:10.3
P2O5:1.7
# Air supply by charcoal induces the activation of soil microbes and CO2 emission temporally. Small amounts of chemical fertilizers or organic matter should be mixed with charcoal in agricultural use.
soil application of charcoal to provide a microhabitat for AM fungi to colonize and survive.
See: The Benefits of Charcoal in the Soil (Research Links) EPRIDA
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Is Biochar a compost accelerator?
I live in the South of France near Toulouse. Around 4 years ago I stocked around 36 cubic metres of Plane Tree wood-chips about 2 to 3 finger size in the ruins of a building which had less than 2 centimetres of charcoal and a small quantity of broken tiles on the ground (bare earth) remaining from a fire that gutted the building around 10 years earlier. The wood-chips had been exposed to rainfall for around 2 years since the polythene covering had started to degrade with the sunlight. I noticed at that time that it was infested with wood-eating beetles, dark red in colour, around 5 centimetres long with a rhinoceros horn structure on the front of the head. I found a large number of them together with their larvae, around 3 centimetres long and about 1 centimetre thick. I ignored this for a couple of years but last October I decided to clear the area which had a generous growth of nettles and blackberries. I discovered that the wood-chips had been transformed into around 6 cubic metres of black compost, such as is sold around here as 'terreau', of a very high quality. I noticed particles of charcoal on the surface and throughout the mass and occasional beetle carcasses.
My experience with wood-chips suggests that this degree of decomposition is unusual without adding manure, urine, soil and other 'lighter' organic matter; and without turning the mass. I suspect that, with the help of the beetles to distribute the charcoal, the charcoal acted as a compost accelerator.
I find no reference to such an effect but my understanding of Biochar gives me the idea that this could be the case. I intend to repeat the experience with and without the application of more conventional compost accelerators. I will keep you informed.
Does anyone else report such an effect?
Nutrient adsorption by fresh charcoal
As I understand it, adding fresh charcoal to the soil would have an initial effect of removing nutrients from the soil. After the sites are fillded up, the typical 'Terra Preta' effect would add on.
Adding nutrients to the char previous to the addition to soil would reduce/reverse this initial effect.
For example, adding urine.
Does anybody have any idea of the specific adsorption capacity for charcoal on nutrients?
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Folke Günther
Lund, Sweden
www.holon.se/folke
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Folke Günther
Lund, Sweden
www.holon.se/folke