Marshall Erickson
Interest in biochar is growing. That brings a lot of information about what it can and can’t do. Some factual, some not so much. Here we present five (5) Practical Uses for biochar that can support a biochar operation. While all of us would love to capture that big biochar distribution/use relationship, it’s not always there. Here we focus on practical uses within a community or region that can scale and sustain a biochar operation.
We define Practical Uses as science-backed applications that (1) solve a prioritized problem, (2) have proven use cases, (3) use a lot of biochar, and (4) end-users will do them. The uses below can range from small to large projects. All can use a lot of biochar across a community or region.
Our Top 5 picks, in no order.
Water Quality (Land-Based). Primary biochar value here is removing nitrate, bacteria, and heavy metal from water runoff. The easiest application, but least effective, is surface deployment (loose or a biochar sock). Best practice is using biochar within an engineered, water filtering structure. These projects combine various forms of water capture and filtering media. Examples include bioreactors, sand filters, and other stormwater and water treatment filtration systems.
Water Quality (Water-Based). Primary value here is the same as land-based for runoff and impaired waters. Apply loose and/or containerized biochar deployed in infiltration/retention basins, wetlands, ponds, and lakes. It may be a standalone body of water or part of a stormwater or other system. It’s a natural, do-no-harm pollutant removal solution. It’s also great for removing algae, preventing its return, and improving water clarity.
Biochar in livestock bedding. Ammonia buildup is an animal/worker welfare concern. The release of nitrogen from animal waste creates ammonia. Biochar mixed with animal bedding/litter reduces nitrogen release and ammonia. Biochar manages moisture and has been shown to reduce the spread of disease in livestock. Its use is expanding as a natural, do-no-harm solution.
Biochar in Manure Management. Smell, ammonia, and N/P balance are concerns in the storage and deployment of manure (fertilizer). Biochar in manure piles and spread across the top of manure lagoons reduce the smell and ammonia. Biochar in spread manure does the same. Biochar enhanced manure creates a better fertilizer as less nitrogen release means a better N/P ratio.
Soil Amendment. A top 5 use under the right circumstances. Biochar’s value here is two-fold. Increasing Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and Water Storage Capacity (WSC). Biochar increases soil water retention by 30%-40%. Increased CEC means more nutrient uptake for plants. Biochar improves soil quality and crop yield in low fertility, coarse-textured, acidic, low CEC soils with low nutrient content; and where limited rain or watering capability is an issue.
These are solid, practical applications that can support a biochar operation. Capturing these opportunities is a separate challenge that we address in another article.