BIOCHAR
Our enthusiasm for Moso BioChar is based on the ancient Chinese tradition, the making of “Fire Manure” a mixture of wood ash, charcoal and manure. “Fire manure” sustained the soils of China, Japan and Korea for three to four thousand years, providing food for these vast populations.
More recent studies on Terra Preta do Indio, the Amazon's dark earths have rekindled the interest in BioChar. These man-made soils created by the original inhabitants of the Amazon continue to be fertile and productive. This ancient wisdom enabled them to turn the "world's worst soil into the world's best". They mastered their environment by mixing BioChar with organic waste to create Terra Preta.
The beneficial effects of Moso BioChar on soil fertility apart from its nutrient content is that it helps hold nitrogen in the root zone by reducing leaching and the abundance of micro-pores in the Biochar provides a food store and protection for humus building beneficial soil microbes. These qualities are summarised below:
1. Moso BioChar changes soil nutrient availability
2. Moso BioChar alters the activity of other micro-organisms that have effects on mycorrhizae
3. Moso BioChar alters the signalling dynamics between plants and mycorrhizal fungi and/or detoxifies the soil
4. Moso BioChar serves as a refuge for colonizing fungi and bacteria.
Some examples of applications include:
Banded broadacre application with mycorrhizae, rhizobium and other inoculants within the seeding band at planting. Banded applications with added urea where nutrient leaching is an issue. Addition to seed raising & potting mixes. Pre planting soil incorporation into planting holes. Soil incorporation into garden beds Tree restoration trench application inside the drip line.
The addition to high nitrogen pig and poultry manures at the start of composting to reduce nitrogen loss.
To form a chemical and nutrient leaching barrier under golf and bowling greens Golf green renovations after coring. There are numerous other applications including use in animal nutrition and manure deodorisation.
Moso BioChar having a surface area greater than 350 square metres per gram, is 3-5 times greater than BioChar made from woods at the same temperature. The approximate analysis of Moso BioChar is 71.5% Carbon, 2.2% silicon, 4.1% Ash, 0.24% Nitrogen, 8.7% Oxygen and 1.8% Hydrogen.
Moso BioChar is packed in 14 kg cardboard boxes enclosed in a plastic liner.
Box dimensions are L 49 x W 29 x H 29 cm. Each pallet contains 40 boxes @ 14kg of Moso BioChar. Pallets are L 116.5 x W 116.5 x H 160 cm. Net weight 560kg including pallet approx 600kg.
Click here to see our BioChar product listing.