Carbon-Rich Material: Improves Soil Health

Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced by heating organic biomass, such as wood, agricultural waste, or manure, in a low-oxygen environment through a process called pyrolysis. This stable form of carbon is primarily used as a soil amendment to enhance soil health, improve fertility, and sequester carbon for long periods.

In composting, biochar plays an important role by improving the structure and nutrient content of the compost. Its high cation exchange capacity (CEC) allows it to retain essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, making them more available to plants. Additionally, biochar helps create a more porous compost, thereby improving aeration, water retention, and root development. By providing a habitat for beneficial microbes and supporting mycorrhizal activity, biochar accelerates the breakdown of organic material in compost piles. It also acts as a pH buffer, stabilising the compost environment and creating favourable conditions for microbial activity.

Biochar also offers environmental benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It sequesters carbon, locking it in the soil for hundreds of years, and helps lower methane and ammonia emissions, both of which contribute to global warming. Its assistance in odour control is apparent, absorbing unpleasant smells during the composting process and resulting in a cleaner compost pile.

For effective use, biochar should be mixed with compostable materials at a recommended ratio of 5–10% by volume, and pre-charging it with water or nutrient-rich solutions, such as compost tea, further enhances its nutrient-holding capacity. Apply biochar in thin layers or mix it with compost materials, turning regularly for even distribution. Incorporating biochar enhances compost quality, accelerates decomposition, and promotes sustainable soil health, plant growth, and environmental conservation.