If you wish to learn more about the soil testing technology that we use, visit www.mysoiltesting.com/pages/technology or watch this video: ua-cam.com/video/1FL4Z20uOUc/v-deo.html
It'd have been interesting to see you use biochar the way real gardeners use it in terra preta approaches: innoculated, 25% mix with soil, to a depth of up to 3 meters, gaining the water management benefits and fostering microbial health.
This is not a helpful test. Initially, the char will deplete the soil without being charged. Why did you bother without testing the charged Biochar? How about comparing different charging methods?
I agree! Many of the SoilLab tests are useless, because they don’t replicate actual applications. No one says to add uncharged biochar to your soil, so why bother testing this, and if you admit that it takes time to charge biochar, why test without allowing that time? Unfortunately, this is often how SoilLab operates - by doing a test that is not applicable, then saying, “we’re sure that if given more time…” This totally invalidates the test, and just turns it into an educated guess, which is not scientific. If more time is needed, why do a test that does not allow for more time. Click bait?
It's not a helpful test because it's merely showing a mechanism and not showing plant performance results. For example, biochar is pointless in turfgrass.
@@Reutzel507 Too bad the expectations were set by the video title, thumbnail, and intro -- all of which contrainicate the "helpful" results. Why are you simping for this creator?
These studies are great. Seeing the results of charged vs uncharged would be interesting. Also, would be interesting to see test results of the uncharged vs control over a longer period of time with some sort of vegetation growing in the samples to see when those nutrients absorbed by the biochar become available to the plant.
One thing the video did not cover was the size of the biochar pieces. Powder? Rice husks size? BBQ charcoal size? Is there an optimal size with biochar for cation exchange?
You can see the size of the product that we added from about 1:00 - 1:30 in the video. It was relatively small, but there was significant dust/powder in the bag as well. Smaller biochar particles will have more surface area in the same amount by weight, so have more reactive surface area than larger particles. Hope this helps!
Biochar has to be mixed with compost to let sit for two weeks first. Then you mix it in with the soil not sprinkle it on top like baco bits on your salad.
Thanks for the comment! You are absolutely correct that one of the major reasons to use biochar is for nutrient holding. We had several viewers that were using uncharged biochar without success so wanted to do this demonstration. If you'd like to see content where we include charged biochar and growing plants you can check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/JLFYimi_OjA/v-deo.html Thanks for watching!
I always use the spent activated charcoal from my fresh water aquarium as a soil amendment, it definitely makes a difference. Simply because it is full of nutrients and adds nitrifying bacteria to the soil. I'd bet the charged study will show premium results for the soil chemistry.
Recommendations vary slightly by product and rate, but applications every 4 - 6 weeks is often what is found on the bag or label. Hope this helps and thank you for watching!
If it’s being applied every 4-6 weeks. So this means it can be applied year round. I’m new to the dyi of lawn care and I’m trying to find ways to improve my lawns soil in which I have clay soil. I’m wanting to put more organic material into my lawn.
@@darrongriffin7977 I love the strategy of adding organic material in multiple ways. I would focus on applications while turf is actively growing and avoid applications when surface runoff may be a concern such as when the ground is frozen. As soil temperatures dip below 40 F soil microbial activity is low, so they would have little engagement with any added OM. If you'd like some very high level pointers for first time DIY'ers, feel free to reach back out!
I know gardeners that do use wood charcoal to help improve soil structure in the garden. I tend to add the charcoal from my fire pit into my compost in small particles, then apply it to the compost to the garden when it is finished. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!
I’d like to see a charged biochar vs just applying compost directly. Compost brings a higher CAC as well so I’d wonder what the benefit of biochar would be
Very well done. Good explaining “charge”. If applied in the fall it makes sense it will soak nutrients. If applied spring we might want to charge it . I wonder if sodium was higher because char acted as sponge but with more water added that would flush it
If you were trying to do a useful scientific experiment, you would have used charged biochar, as people who used it long ago and how people use it today. Instead you're doing an experiment on what no one's doing with biochar compared to a random pot of soil.
@badluckwitcarpet I appreciate your input and thoughtfulness, thanks for watching! Many of our viewers requested the uncharged initially, but we did a follow up using charged and uncharged biochar as well as humic acid with plants growing in each. That was followed by a root wash video as well. I think it’s time to tweak and repeat this demonstration! You can find those additional videos here: ua-cam.com/video/JLFYimi_OjA/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/18EeHslXVjE/v-deo.html
So, you didn't look at microbial activity or moisture holding? These can all be done at the same time. I've always don't my own studies so I can get all the information.
Hi please send me your findings of charged versus uncharged. If I apply it to a macadamia tree, do I place it in a heap on top of the soil or do I burry it by the feeder roots
Would adding uncharged biochar to carrot patch be good as carrots don't like too many nutrients & biochar would absorb the excess & be charged for next crop of veges. Interesting video. Thank you.
I’m glad I found your channel. Can you do a test on Turface or calcined clay particles and how it interact with NPK and Micro elements? Lots of people are using it for citrus in containers. Same for Akadama, lava rock, pumice, etc. lots of people are transitioning to “Soiless” mix for pots. Thanks in advance.
Don't expect it to be the magic bullet. Don't expect to work right away - it won't, charged or uncharged. Takes time for soil microbes to populate the biochar. Small pieces work best. I use oak heating pellets to make mine. Nice and uniform size and NO SMASHING required! In the fall I mix them in the soil uncharged. In the spring I will precharge them if I needed to add more. The sweet spot for biochar concentration is about 8% by volume in the first 6-8 inches of soil (aka root zone). Some plants do not do well at all with biochar and others it seems to work ok. I have seen little benefits over the years. Nothing spectacular.
I am not sure looing at unchargered or un inoculated biochar is much different than comparing a Ferrari to a Ford Escape when neither has any fuel in their tanks. Maybe a good comparison would be charged biochar to an amended soil to see if biochar carries anything better.
Thanks for the comment! That's a great analogy. We had several viewers that were using uncharged biochar without success so wanted to do this demonstration. If you'd like to see content where we include charged biochar and growing plants you can check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/JLFYimi_OjA/v-deo.html Thanks for watching!
"uncharged biochar" is (basically) just carbon. There's no "bio" until you add nutrients and microbes colonize it. Calling this charcoal "biochar" is just confusing people.
@@Reutzel507 I said unless you have Sandy soil there is no need for it. If you do not know what Sandy soil looks like then perhaps you might want to do some research on that one. Biochar has been shown to cause problems with Mycorrhizal Fungi (which in case you did not know is native to a lot of soils in the Western world, it's not just an amendment you buy).
@@Reutzel507 If you want to go with a man-made amendment for your soil that will leave you with more bacteria than fungi in your soil, go for it but when you aren't able to start a food forest because of that and end up spending even more money having to continue add to your soil to be able to grow anything, don't forget I told you so. Adios.
If you wish to learn more about the soil testing technology that we use, visit www.mysoiltesting.com/pages/technology or watch this video: ua-cam.com/video/1FL4Z20uOUc/v-deo.html
It'd have been interesting to see you use biochar the way real gardeners use it in terra preta approaches: innoculated, 25% mix with soil, to a depth of up to 3 meters, gaining the water management benefits and fostering microbial health.
Great video guys. Would love to see the charged vs uncharged.
Thanks Ron! We plan to do a similar study and incorporate turf and germinating vegetables. Cheers!
I would also love to see the charged bio char test on tuff lawns and seed germination
I also would love to see this charged vs uncharged.
Yes, I'd like to see the comparison. Great video.
I was wanting a field trial. This is one level above practicality.
This is not a helpful test. Initially, the char will deplete the soil without being charged. Why did you bother without testing the charged Biochar? How about comparing different charging methods?
It is helpful. Just not for your expectations.
Do you have a study to back up your claim?
I agree! Many of the SoilLab tests are useless, because they don’t replicate actual applications. No one says to add uncharged biochar to your soil, so why bother testing this, and if you admit that it takes time to charge biochar, why test without allowing that time? Unfortunately, this is often how SoilLab operates - by doing a test that is not applicable, then saying, “we’re sure that if given more time…” This totally invalidates the test, and just turns it into an educated guess, which is not scientific. If more time is needed, why do a test that does not allow for more time. Click bait?
@@Reutzel507
There are plenty of studies that show the effectiveness of charging your biochar. You should Google it you may learn something.
It's not a helpful test because it's merely showing a mechanism and not showing plant performance results.
For example, biochar is pointless in turfgrass.
@@Reutzel507 Too bad the expectations were set by the video title, thumbnail, and intro -- all of which contrainicate the "helpful" results. Why are you simping for this creator?
I'd love to see studies on microbiome and water retention effecrs as well!
These studies are great. Seeing the results of charged vs uncharged would be interesting. Also, would be interesting to see test results of the uncharged vs control over a longer period of time with some sort of vegetation growing in the samples to see when those nutrients absorbed by the biochar become available to the plant.
Great video would love to see the difference between both charged and uncharged
Crushing it Matt!
One thing the video did not cover was the size of the biochar pieces. Powder? Rice husks size? BBQ charcoal size? Is there an optimal size with biochar for cation exchange?
You can see the size of the product that we added from about 1:00 - 1:30 in the video. It was relatively small, but there was significant dust/powder in the bag as well. Smaller biochar particles will have more surface area in the same amount by weight, so have more reactive surface area than larger particles. Hope this helps!
Biochar has to be mixed with compost to let sit for two weeks first. Then you mix it in with the soil not sprinkle it on top like baco bits on your salad.
I bet baco bits would be far better for the plants than smothering them in untreated charcoal 🤣
I thought the major point to biochar was to hold nutrients so wouldn't showing inoculated biochar vs ammendment be better
Thanks for the comment! You are absolutely correct that one of the major reasons to use biochar is for nutrient holding. We had several viewers that were using uncharged biochar without success so wanted to do this demonstration. If you'd like to see content where we include charged biochar and growing plants you can check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/JLFYimi_OjA/v-deo.html
Thanks for watching!
I always use the spent activated charcoal from my fresh water aquarium as a soil amendment, it definitely makes a difference. Simply because it is full of nutrients and adds nitrifying bacteria to the soil. I'd bet the charged study will show premium results for the soil chemistry.
Oh, that is a good idea!
How often can you apply Biochar and humic to your lawn
Recommendations vary slightly by product and rate, but applications every 4 - 6 weeks is often what is found on the bag or label. Hope this helps and thank you for watching!
If it’s being applied every 4-6 weeks. So this means it can be applied year round. I’m new to the dyi of lawn care and I’m trying to find ways to improve my lawns soil in which I have clay soil. I’m wanting to put more organic material into my lawn.
@@darrongriffin7977 I love the strategy of adding organic material in multiple ways. I would focus on applications while turf is actively growing and avoid applications when surface runoff may be a concern such as when the ground is frozen. As soil temperatures dip below 40 F soil microbial activity is low, so they would have little engagement with any added OM. If you'd like some very high level pointers for first time DIY'ers, feel free to reach back out!
Can you use wood charcoal?
I know gardeners that do use wood charcoal to help improve soil structure in the garden. I tend to add the charcoal from my fire pit into my compost in small particles, then apply it to the compost to the garden when it is finished. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!
Great educational video. Would be great if you guys can add CEC to a soil test results as well
I’d like to see the biochar in action versus a placebo control. Grow tomatoes for example
Muy interesante su canal. Excelente las pruebas que realizó
I’d like to see a charged biochar vs just applying compost directly.
Compost brings a higher CAC as well so I’d wonder what the benefit of biochar would be
Thank you for the suggestion, I've added it to our que!
is it posible to use synthetic fertilizer to charge the biochar?
Very well done. Good explaining “charge”. If applied in the fall it makes sense it will soak nutrients. If applied spring we might want to charge it . I wonder if sodium was higher because char acted as sponge but with more water added that would flush it
I'd love to see results adding charged biochar to the soil ❤
We did! Watch here: ua-cam.com/video/JLFYimi_OjA/v-deo.html
We also performed a root wash here: ua-cam.com/video/18EeHslXVjE/v-deo.html
@@SoiLab Oh wow, I searched for it and couldn't find that one. Thank you so much for responding!
If you were trying to do a useful scientific experiment, you would have used charged biochar, as people who used it long ago and how people use it today. Instead you're doing an experiment on what no one's doing with biochar compared to a random pot of soil.
@badluckwitcarpet I appreciate your input and thoughtfulness, thanks for watching! Many of our viewers requested the uncharged initially, but we did a follow up using charged and uncharged biochar as well as humic acid with plants growing in each. That was followed by a root wash video as well. I think it’s time to tweak and repeat this demonstration!
You can find those additional videos here:
ua-cam.com/video/JLFYimi_OjA/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/18EeHslXVjE/v-deo.html
Thank you for the BioChar video! Excellent content as usual from SoiLab
Our pleasure!
Would love to see differences in types of activated bio char? Also, longer impacts of bio char. Thanks.
So, you didn't look at microbial activity or moisture holding? These can all be done at the same time. I've always don't my own studies so I can get all the information.
I wonder if Doc will weigh in?
Hi please send me your findings of charged versus uncharged. If I apply it to a macadamia tree, do I place it in a heap on top of the soil or do I burry it by the feeder roots
What is "charged" biochar?
Would adding uncharged biochar to carrot patch be good as carrots don't like too many nutrients & biochar would absorb the excess & be charged for next crop of veges. Interesting video. Thank you.
I’m glad I found your channel.
Can you do a test on Turface or calcined clay particles and how it interact with NPK and Micro elements? Lots of people are using it for citrus in containers.
Same for Akadama, lava rock, pumice, etc. lots of people are transitioning to “Soiless” mix for pots.
Thanks in advance.
Thank you for the suggestions! We can certainly look to add something like this in a future episode.
Great info Matt! 👍🏼
Thanks. Glad it was helpful!
Don't expect it to be the magic bullet. Don't expect to work right away - it won't, charged or uncharged.
Takes time for soil microbes to populate the biochar.
Small pieces work best.
I use oak heating pellets to make mine. Nice and uniform size and NO SMASHING required!
In the fall I mix them in the soil uncharged.
In the spring I will precharge them if I needed to add more.
The sweet spot for biochar concentration is about 8% by volume in the first 6-8 inches of soil (aka root zone).
Some plants do not do well at all with biochar and others it seems to work ok.
I have seen little benefits over the years. Nothing spectacular.
Opening in a couple week. First one in canada
I am not sure looing at unchargered or un inoculated biochar is much different than comparing a Ferrari to a Ford Escape when neither has any fuel in their tanks. Maybe a good comparison would be charged biochar to an amended soil to see if biochar carries anything better.
Thanks for the comment! That's a great analogy. We had several viewers that were using uncharged biochar without success so wanted to do this demonstration. If you'd like to see content where we include charged biochar and growing plants you can check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/JLFYimi_OjA/v-deo.html
Thanks for watching!
Let’s see side by side plant or grass growth with and without bio char.
Great idea! Thank you.
U do every test half assed. Charge it.
You are clueless.
The biochar can be more hydrophilic (retaining water) if you steam it, then let it sit in water.👍✌️
Kickin out Sodium sure a benefit for some plants..
Growers only use charged bio char
you , my Friend would have made Grade School SCIENCE class a Whole Lot more interesting
😎👍
"uncharged biochar" is (basically) just carbon. There's no "bio" until you add nutrients and microbes colonize it.
Calling this charcoal "biochar" is just confusing people.
ua-cam.com/video/-b6PMN5I4NE/v-deo.htmlsi=eibZjQ0O3KLJ6Flu
Opening in a couple week!! First in canada !!
If you do not have Sandy soil you should not be using Biochar.
@@Reutzel507 The last stand of someone with no leg to stand on, and no argument to be made.
@@Reutzel507 I said unless you have Sandy soil there is no need for it. If you do not know what Sandy soil looks like then perhaps you might want to do some research on that one. Biochar has been shown to cause problems with Mycorrhizal Fungi (which in case you did not know is native to a lot of soils in the Western world, it's not just an amendment you buy).
@@Reutzel507 Terra Preta took hundreds if not thousands of years to synthesize to its current state, and has also been shown to cause issues for AMF.
@@Reutzel507 If you want to go with a man-made amendment for your soil that will leave you with more bacteria than fungi in your soil, go for it but when you aren't able to start a food forest because of that and end up spending even more money having to continue add to your soil to be able to grow anything, don't forget I told you so. Adios.
@@Reutzel507 Benefit high pH based soils? You do realize that even after charging, Biochar has a pH of close to 11...yes?
Great information thank you for sharing
ua-cam.com/video/-b6PMN5I4NE/v-deo.htmlsi=eibZjQ0O3KLJ6Flu