7 Ways to Charge Biochar

There are endless ways to charge biochar, but they all follow a common pattern… Add nutrients, add liquid and let it sit.

This is a title graphic that says: Seven ways to charge your biochar. The background is dark green and the seedling icon of bottom-up-biochar is in the corner.
This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar with manure. On the right side there is a picture of manure. On the left side are three steps that descripe how to charge biochar with manure. First, Add water to your biochar until it leaks out. Second, Mix biochar and manure in the ratio one to one. Third, let it sit for fourteen days and keep it moist.
This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar with compost. On the right side there is a picture of compost. On the left side are three steps that descripe how to charge biochar with compost. First, Add water to your biochar until it leaks out. Second, Mix biochar and compost in the ratio one to one. Third, let it sit for fourteen days and keep it moist.
This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar by co-compost. On the right side there is a picture of compost. On the left side are three steps that descripe how to charge biochar by co-compost. First, add biochar to your compost pile over time. Second, biochar should be less than 50% of the pile. Third the biochar is charged when the compost is ready.
This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar with fertilizer. On the right side there is a picture of fertilizer. On the left side are four steps that descripe how to charge biochar with fertilizer. First, use half the fertilizer usually used for that area. Second, dissolve it in water. Third, add your biochar and more water until it floats. Fourth, let it sit for minimum three days, keep it wet.
This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar with urine. On the right side there is a picture of some metal buckets. On the left side are three steps that descripe how to charge biochar with urine. First, put your biochar in a container. Second, add urine until the biochar starts floating. Third, let it set for a minimum of three days and keep it wet.
This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar by mulching. On the right side there is a picture of grass. On the left side are two steps that descripe how to charge biochar by mulching. First, use biochar and grass cuttings in a ratio one to ten by volume. Second use it as mulch and apply a thin layer around your plants.
This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar as a bedding. On the right side there is a picture of chicken. On the left side are two steps that descripe how to charge biochar as bedding. First, Substitute your bedding with biochar. Second, the biochar charges with the animal droppings. Use it after changing the bedding.
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There are endless ways to charge biochar, but they all follow a common pattern: 

  • Add nutrients
  • Add liquid to help the nutrients move
  • Let it sit to give the nutrients time to move into the pores of the biochar

The purpose of charging is to fill the nutrient storage capacity of the biochar. This way it will be able to release nutrients once it is in the soil. If you don’t charge it, the biochar will first take up nutrients from your soil and temporarily depleat it.

These are 7 ways to charge your biochar:

With Manure

With Compost

With Urine

With Fertilizer

By Co-Composting

By Mulching

As Bedding

…or get creative with the things you already have.

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This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Solimo Godwin 15 Aug 2020

    Many thanks to you Olivia. Your posts are very educative. I never miss every post that you put on the page.

    1. Olivia Thierley 15 Aug 2020

      That’s really motivating to hear! It’s because of people like you that I keep posting 💛🌿

  2. Dr. Rashid 16 Aug 2020

    Biochar is no doubt a useful soil enhancer. It works in acidic soil condition and increase pH which helps in nutrient availability and plant growth. My observation is as it works in alkaline soil condition as most of our Asian soil are calcareous having high pH.

    1. Olivia Thierley 16 Aug 2020

      That’s possible 🙂 If you make char at home and want to use it on alkaline soil, it’s a good idea to rinse the ash off because it is the most alkaline part.

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