Biochar Bulk Bags

 0.5m3 and 1m3 bulk bags, granule size: 0-13 mm, approx weight 250 Kg and 500 Kg  

Our price includes pallet delivery to mainland regions.

Please email [email protected] to discuss order placement and delivery. 

What is Biochar

Biochar is a form of charcoal-carbon made by pyrolysis (combustion without oxygen). Good biochar improves the structure, tilth, aeration, water-holding capacity and nutrient retention in soils which leads to improved soil health and plant growth.

Why use biochar

Biochar made from wood supports enhanced microbe and fungal growth. These microbes live in the biochar pores and access the stored nutrients. The microbes form symbiotic relationships with plant root hairs – moving nutrients to the roots in exchange for sugars (food) from the roots. There is growing evidence this root zone activity stretches beyond nutrient transfer. The exact mechanisms are not fully known, but it appears a community of mutual defence against pathogens and diseases is created which results in enhanced plant vitality and disease resistance.  

(Note: there are hundreds of types of biochar. Ours is made from sustainable wood resources. We have many years of technical leadership in how to use biochar to deliver plant growth benefits.) 

Our internal testing and analysis have led us to only use biochar made from wood. We then grade and sieve the particle sizes so it enhances soil microbiology and soil aggregation and tilth.

Biochar features

We are confident biochar will deliver +20% plant growth and crop yield. 

• SoilFixer biochar is sieved and graded for soil needs
• Water retention
• Nutrient supply to roots
• Decrease nutrient runoff
• Support microbes and AMF (mycorrhizal fungi)
• Support the formation and stability of colloidal humus
• Improve soil tilth

Environmental benefits include:

• Carbon capture by locking carbon in the soil for hundreds of years
• Offset your carbon footprint - 1Kg biochar equals approx 2.0 Kg of carbon dioxide 
• Reduced NO_x and methane soil emissions

Read more about biochar on our biochar article. 

Where to use biochar

• Planters
• Raised beds
• Allotments
• Lawns
• General gardens
• Add to compost* (see below)

How to apply biochar

Raw biochar needs to absorb nutrients and develop root zone relationships - this can take 3-6 months. This inoculation ‘lag’ period can be solved (see below), or customers can buy SF60 Biochar Super Compost soil improver or SF40 Biochar multi-purpose compost - ready to use.

We recommend (along with most of the biochar scientific community) that you 'inoculate' (soak, charge, activate, enrich) your biochar before adding it to the soil.  The simplest method is to add biochar to your composting process. You can also soak the biochar in a liquid fertiliser before adding to the soil.

The most powerful biochar benefits involve interactions with the root zone. It follows the best place for biochar is in the root zone. Our recommendation is to dig it when planting (eg seed drills, tree holes or when cultivating the soil. This is not always possible (nor desirable if following no-till regime!) and biochar benefits have been shown when used as a top dressing or when lightly hoed into top few centimetres of soil.

Should I use powder or 0-13mm granules?

The SoilFixer 0-13mm grade biochar granules are the best balance of particle size ratios for use in soil. There are no large bits >13mm approx 30% 8-13mm, 50% 2-8mm, and 20% <2mm.  

We do not recommend fine (amorphous) biochar powders as they do not have the macro-pores needed by soil microbes.  We also advise care when using large granules (>13mm sieve) because the volume of surface pores available to the soil microbes is much lower. Large particles also negatively impact soil aggregation (ie tilth). (Read more in our biochar blog).

How much biochar should I apply to the soil?

Apply 1Kg/m2 to a max. of 5Kg/m2. 

The % volume ratio varies with the depth of the soil mix. For more details on application rate calculations by area, volume and weight and tips on how to make your budget go further, please visit the application ratio blog. We also have a free Excel calculator if you need to work out accurate application ratios. 

You can make biochar go further and maximize your budget by focusing on adding it to seeds drills and planting holes. 

Quality

Our biochar is 100% made from arboricultural wood arisings to the EBC certification standard. The pyrolysis production (heating without oxygen) is undertaken in the latest advanced technology process. You can read why this matters to the environment and your carbon footprint via our blog.  

How to apply biochar

The most powerful biochar benefits involve interactions with the root zone. It follows the best place for biochar is in the root zone. Our recommendation is to dig it when planting (eg seed drills, tree holes or when cultivating the soil. This is not always possible (nor desirable if following no-till regime!) and biochar benefits have been shown when used as a top dressing or when lightly hoed into top few cm soil.

We recommend (along with most of the biochar scientific community) that you 'inoculate' (soak, charge, activate, enrich) your biochar before adding it to the soil.  The simplest method is to add biochar to your composting process. However, if you prefer to buy a 'ready-made' activated biochar - please see our SF60 soil improver and SF40 biochar multi-purpose compost.