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| Biochar boosts your compost |
If you have not yet heard of Biochar, you will in the near
future. Biochar is a soil amendment with the properties unlike any other. Used
in agriculture for over 3000 years, Biochar is a component of the incredibly
fertile soils of the Amazon. These soils, called terra-preta, is why the Amazon
jungle is unlike anyplace else on earth.
So what can Biochar do for your garden? Biochar improves
nutrient retention of soil, decreasing the need for additional amendments. Its
ability to hold carbon in the soil has been proven in research. While Biochar
won’t make poor soil perfect, it will enhance the effectiveness and longevity
of compost.
Biochar is now commercially available, but if you are a
do-it-yourselfer, you can make Biochar at home. Online resources cover many
ways to create your own Biochar, but if you decide to buy instead, keep in mind
that although it’s expensive, it lasts a very long time in your garden. Here's one article that teaches you how to make your own. Making Biochar to Improve Soil (Mother Earth News).
