Biochar adds bacteria > nutrients, uses CO2

It's nice to see some experimental empirical evidence coming along to back up our anecdotes:

John S
PDX OR

https://naturalsciencenews.com/article/6857

"In the study, biochar was applied at rates of 0%, 0.5%, and 1.5% to soil planted with spinach. The researchers observed that biochar application at 1.5% significantly increased the abundance of bacterial communities responsible for growth and nutrient uptake, such as Firmicutes (42.25%), Bacteroidetes (10.46%), and Gemmatimonadetes (125.75%), compared to the control under elevated CO2 conditions. Interestingly, the abundance of Proteobacteria decreased by 9.18% under the same conditions. This shift in bacterial community structure suggests that biochar creates a favorable environment for beneficial bacteria, which in turn enhances nutrient availability and uptake by plants."

These are the articles that make me wanna use more of it than I already do. Can't imagine a dusting of biochar at 1.5% would significantly do anything in a soil substrate, but alas, "science" proves what most biochar enthusiasts already speculate. Thanks for the link. I always geek out about biochar when I'm about to incorporate more into my grow areas.

I've got a 5 gallon bucket of top-down burned charcoal sitting on my carport "charging" at the moment. It's currently inundated with a number of biologicals. Microbes, bacteria, humic acid, molasses, kelp, azomite, aged urea, comfrey leaves, coffee grounds and real salt. Topped off with rainwater.

What do you think, John? Sound like I'm covering most bases? I'm gonna finally setup a few side by side comparisons of plant starts using biochar this Fall.

John Suavecito wrote:It's nice to see some experimental empirical evidence coming along to back up our anecdotes:

John S
PDX OR

https://naturalsciencenews.com/article/6857

If you go to Google Scholar and search under 'biochar' you will find a lot of studies have been done.

Sounds good, Thombo.
It's interesting to note that the bacteria species in the soil change, just like they do in our gut microbiome.  Some of the same bateria are present in both.   I assume that at some point, some really awesome geeky scientists will be giving us advice about what processes can increase the types of bacteria in our soil that will then help us be more resilient in our guts.  We can cultivate our gardens for our own specific health, just as they do for advice about antioxidants and phytochemicals.

I would be careful about salt, as it is used in sauerkraut to shut down bacteria, which may not be helpful in biochar.  

I would also be careful about how much molasses to put in, as too much can overwhelm the mix.

John S
PDX OR

John Suavecito wrote:Sounds good, Thombo.
It's interesting to note that the bacteria species in the soil change, just like they do in our gut microbiome.  Some of the same bateria are present in both.   I assume that at some point, some really awesome geeky scientists will be giving us advice about what processes can increase the types of bacteria in our soil that will then help us be more resilient in our guts.  We can cultivate our gardens for our own specific health, just as they do for advice about antioxidants and phytochemicals.

I would be careful about salt, as it is used in sauerkraut to shut down bacteria, which may not be helpful in biochar.  

I would also be careful about how much molasses to put in, as too much can overwhelm the mix.

John S
PDX OR

I always aim for the low end when it comes to the ingredients. This current biochar soak is helpin me go through bags of minerals I bought 5 years ago because I never use them in liberal amounts. I used to hesitate to mix minerals/salt with microbes/bacteria/fungi but I read or saw someone who made me re-think that approach a while back. Salt must not have shut down too much, because there's a clear reaction happening in the char but I'm not as high IQ as some on here, so I couldn't tell you what it is... but it's bubblin.

Do you apply minerals or anything else when you put the charged char in the ground or does that sound like overkill (or overlife??)? In the Spring I put charcoal in planting holes and sprinkled them with rock dust and had results that made me think it was helping my annual plants along, nothing extravagant though. I still think one of the most important qualities is its ability to hold water in Southern grow zones. I strongly believe it's the reason my seedling peach, pear, and mulberry are all growing at an alarming rate. Red mulberry got so tall those hurricane winds snapped it in half a couple months ago but it's fully recovered and you can't even tell it's missing 30% of the tree that was there in May. As always, thanks for the response.

I put minerals in when I charge it.  I add ag lime, which is full of calcium.  I also add rotten fruit, old rotten wood, whole wheat flour, compost, worm compost, seaweed, and urine.  I don't really add minerals later, but I dig my biochar into the dripline of my trees and bushes. That way, when I need to take a whiz, I just aim for an area where I put biochar.  I completely agree with the water absorbing feature of biochar.  It also seems to facilitate the movement of nutrients throughout the soil.  Mycelium knows how to take care of that task.  Trees put  about 30% of their energy into exudates in the soil, which will attract bacteria, which feed on/ eat the digestive products of/ etc. other microbes. This sets up a rich and very diverse soil food web, which is where the soil gets its resilience and ability to create and distribute nutrition.  
John S
PDX OR