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.

Charging Biochar – Fertilizer

You can use any fertilizer that you normally use for your plants.

1. Use only half the amount of fertilizer that you would usually use for that area. The biochar stores the nutrients so the fertilzer becomes more efficient.

2. Dissolve your fertilizer with water.

3. Put your biochar in a container. Add your dissolved fertilizer and more water until the biochar starts floating. The liquid helps the nutrients to move.

4. Keep it uncovered and let it sit for a minimum of 3 days. Charging with liquids is faster because the nutrients can move freely. Keep the mix wet and add water is it dries out.

Apply the biochar to the soil (this is discribed in other posts).

You can always mix your nutrients sources: grass cuttings with compost, manure with urine, compost with manure…