Biochar provides remarkable benefits to orchard trees when added to the soil at the time of planting. Some benefits of biochar include water retention, nitrogen and soil nutrients retention, improved microbial colonization, reduced soil compaction, and so much more.
Complete Guide on Using Biochar to Boost Orchard Health and Yield
CharGrow recently supplied bulk biochar to a farm in Western North Carolina that’s putting in a new orchard. They have a wide variety of trees that will be planted in the clay-heavy soils common to this region. The multiple benefits of biochar are going to give this orchard a head start and great opportunity to thrive.
Wood-derived biochar was delivered in one cubic yard super sacks, weighing about 500 lbs each (bulk density of around 18 lbs/ft3). The weight of bulk biochar can very significantly depending upon feedstock (hardwood, softwood, grass, husk, etc.), particle size, and moisture content. A fine powder is going to weight more than larger biochar pieces because there is less air space between particles. Water will contribute a significant amount of weight. Since biochar has a very high water holding capacity, the weight of a cubic yard can range from 200lbs to 7oolbs just depending upon the moisture content.
In this soil application, biochar will be added to the backfill dirt at a ratio of 10% of total soil volume. Another 10% will be comprised of high quality compost. Additionally endo/ecto mycorrhizal fungi will be added, along with a 13-13-13 fertilizer. Triple 13 fertilizer is comprised of thirteen percent nitrogen, thirteen percent phosphorous, and thirteen percent potassium.
Adding biochar for orchard planting
Biochar and compost can be mixed into the soil in a number of ways for an orchard planting. When working with volumes in quantities of several cubic yards, blending in bulk will require some machinery that can effectively lift a turn the material. Perhaps most ideal, but not commonly available, would be a compost turner.
Alternatively, a small cement mixer is a great way to tackle the job in smaller batches. This method is very effective at achieving a thoroughly blended biochar, compost, soil, inoculant, and fertilizer end product.
A simple and low cost method to use biochar in your orchard planting is to just blend in the hole at the time of planting. This is the approach that this particular orchard is planning to use considering the fairly small scale planting. There isn’t anything magical about an exact proportion, so try measuring out volumes in your first hole and then just eye it for the remaining.
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