The Science

Black Earth Biochar made of 100% plant-derived pure carbon (C) from untreated waste wood.

Much like a water filter containing activated charcoal (also C), our biochar absorbs nutrients and water percolating through the soil matrix. However, unlike a water filter, it stores what is absorbed for later release—a safe for your plants’ essentials.

Many of the nutrients we add to soils, particularly liquid and synthetic nitrogen (N), have a tendency to run off or leach from soils. This is particularly true when soil as already sufficient in nutrient and moisture, because plants can only take up and use so much at a time, and water moves through soil along a gradient in all directions (from high moisture to low moisture) and cannot hold more in any section once it is saturated. In addition, sandy and coarse soils have low surface area to volume ratio and have trouble holding on the water and nutrients. The size of the space between soil grains/particles largely determines the direction of flow, and small air spaces create suction (a pressure gradient) that draws moisture in. 

On the other hand, clay has finer particles (of silica or Si) creating a large surface area to volume ratio. Because silica is a negatively charged ion, its surface allows it to hold on to water (a ‘polar molecule with + and – ends) and other compounds, very well (particularly those with a + charge). It works like a tiny magnet. But for this reason clay also expands on wetting, and becomes waterlogged, starving plant roots and soil microbes of oxygen (O). Clay also dries out easily, often cracking as it shrinks, exposing delicate plant roots to the harsh elements. 

Adding organic matter (carbon-based materials that are of plant, or sometimes animal, origin) can improve soil structure to provide increased aeration/drainage and water retention. This also assists soil in retaining water-soluble nutrients.  Peat moss is often used for these purposes and can absorb lots of water. However, peat moss can cause soils to become acidic and require lime additions; it also comes from the surface mining of boreal forest and tundra, which destroys habitat and other natural processes (such as water retention). If left unclaimed these northern areas emit vast amounts of the greenhouse gases (GHG)—carbon dioxide (CO2) and if wet methane (CH4), promote flooding, etc.

Our biochar has a much higher surface area than others on the market (average = 250 m2/g) of which 80% is made up of mesopores (2 – >50 nm [Nanometers] increasing its sponge-like capabilities over other biochars. Only activated carbon can top our pore-portion, but primarily contains micropores (less than 2 nm)— too small to capture larger molecules or hold on to as much for as long. Each batch of biochar is produced and tested to maximise it remarkable water and nutrient holding capabilities. The results speak for themselves.

Our 100% pure carbon plant-derived biochar offers the following:

• An increased soil lifetime (up to 1000 year+) and resistance to degradation over other amendments

• Increased moisture retention for less watering 

• Greater retention of nutrients reducing the need for fertilizer

• Retains soil gases, such as oxygen for root health

• Sequesters soil-produced carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), both important GHG

• High surface area and macropores provide shelter for microorganism and fungi (e.g. micorrhizae 

• Does not alter your soils pH

• Improves overall soil structure and health

• Safe for all plants from food crops to ornamentals, lawns to houseplants

• Suitable for organic agriculture and horticulture

• Climate neutral and carbon negative, storing carbon as itself in your soil

• Up-cycled from (wood) waste that would be land-filled, using land and producing GHG

• Good for your plants, the environment, earth and Earth