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(269) 663-2224
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P.O. Box 962
Niles, MI 49120
Niles, MI 49120
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info@ambiochar.com
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The Beauty Above Comes From the Science Below
Nutrient-dense food is a major reason for gardening. For you, it may also be the shade of a beautiful maple or the beauty of a flower bed. None of these is possible without healthy soil. Optimum plant growth is directly related to the nutrients in the soil. The beneficial microbes that aid nutrient cycling. soil water retention, and soil structure are all impacted by our farming, arborist, and gardening techniques and amendments.
You know that, or you wouldn’t be reading this. We know our biochar products improve soil and increase the nutrient density and beauty of everything we grow. At American BioChar Company we work with nature, not against her.
Let us know how we can help you achieve your most successful growing year ever. We’re here to answer your questions. And we only have a few questions for you to request information.
Thank you for your interest in our products and in regenerating our earth.
You know that, or you wouldn’t be reading this. We know our biochar products improve soil and increase the nutrient density and beauty of everything we grow. At American BioChar Company we work with nature, not against her.
Let us know how we can help you achieve your most successful growing year ever. We’re here to answer your questions. And we only have a few questions for you to request information.
Thank you for your interest in our products and in regenerating our earth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BioChar, And How Does It Improve Soil Health?
Biochar improves soil health microbially, physically, and chemically. It is a material that is carbon rich. A heating process known as pyrolysis creates biochar. It is heating organic matter (such as wood, crop residues, manure, or any organic material) in the absence of oxygen.
But not all biochar is the same or for the same end-use. There isn’t biochar; there are biochars – plural. The feedstock, temperature, and time spent in pyrolysis all impact the finished biochar product.
The temperature affects the properties of the finished biochar product. For soil health in agricultural and gardening applications, low or medium temperature pyrolysis biochar is the best (temperatures from 580-1200 degrees Fahrenheit). At these temperatures, most of the volatile compounds are destroyed. The chemical bonds are broken, and the volatile organic compounds fuel the pyrolysis.
These biochars are ideal for agricultural and soil enhancement uses. They have high porosity (lots of pore spaces) for nutrients and microbes to hang out until plants signal that they need them for optimal growth and fruiting. Learn more about soil microbes here.
But not all biochar is the same or for the same end-use. There isn’t biochar; there are biochars – plural. The feedstock, temperature, and time spent in pyrolysis all impact the finished biochar product.
The temperature affects the properties of the finished biochar product. For soil health in agricultural and gardening applications, low or medium temperature pyrolysis biochar is the best (temperatures from 580-1200 degrees Fahrenheit). At these temperatures, most of the volatile compounds are destroyed. The chemical bonds are broken, and the volatile organic compounds fuel the pyrolysis.
These biochars are ideal for agricultural and soil enhancement uses. They have high porosity (lots of pore spaces) for nutrients and microbes to hang out until plants signal that they need them for optimal growth and fruiting. Learn more about soil microbes here.
Does BioChar Work in All Soil Types, Including Clay and Loam?
Biochar acts as a soil conditioner that addresses the limiting factors present in each soil type rather than working through a single mechanism.
The specific mechanisms vary depending on the soil’s existing characteristics. For example, in a clay soil that is always either too wet or too dry, biochar improves drainage by creating air pockets. In a sandy or loam soil, biochar acts like a sponge and soaks up water that otherwise would drain too quickly.
Most biochars are alkaline and can help neutralize acidic soils, which is beneficial for many crops. Even in neutral or slightly alkaline soils, biochar provides buffering capacity that helps stabilize pH over time.
The high porosity of biochar creates binding sites for macro- and micronutrients. This keeps them from leaching away and makes nutrients available to plants when they need them.
Biochar provides several universal benefits that help improve all soil types. It also provides a beneficial microbial habitat. This enhanced microbial activity improves nutrient cycling, disease suppression, and overall soil health across all soil types.
The specific mechanisms vary depending on the soil’s existing characteristics. For example, in a clay soil that is always either too wet or too dry, biochar improves drainage by creating air pockets. In a sandy or loam soil, biochar acts like a sponge and soaks up water that otherwise would drain too quickly.
Most biochars are alkaline and can help neutralize acidic soils, which is beneficial for many crops. Even in neutral or slightly alkaline soils, biochar provides buffering capacity that helps stabilize pH over time.
The high porosity of biochar creates binding sites for macro- and micronutrients. This keeps them from leaching away and makes nutrients available to plants when they need them.
Biochar provides several universal benefits that help improve all soil types. It also provides a beneficial microbial habitat. This enhanced microbial activity improves nutrient cycling, disease suppression, and overall soil health across all soil types.
Can I use Biochar with Fertilizer?
Yes, the pure carbon pore structure in biochar acts like a sponge to soak up the nutrient molecules in the fertilizer.
It can be used with organic or synthetic fertilizers. It is wise not to use fungicides with your fertilizer because the pores in biochar also act as housing for beneficial microbes. When you kill off the pathogens, you also kill the beneficials.
Those pores also have a slight electrical charge and attract nutrient ions. Biochar can store those nutrients until your plants need them, reducing leaching and run-off of expensive inputs.
It can be used with organic or synthetic fertilizers. It is wise not to use fungicides with your fertilizer because the pores in biochar also act as housing for beneficial microbes. When you kill off the pathogens, you also kill the beneficials.
Those pores also have a slight electrical charge and attract nutrient ions. Biochar can store those nutrients until your plants need them, reducing leaching and run-off of expensive inputs.
What Is Humate?
Humate is a naturally occurring substance derived from the long-term decomposition of organic matter—think ancient plant and animal residues that have broken down over thousands of years. It’s rich in humic substances, which include:
- Humic acids: Large molecules that bind nutrients and metals, improving soil fertility and microbial activity.
- Fulvic acids: Smaller, water-soluble molecules that carry trace minerals directly into plant cells.
- Humins: Insoluble components that help build soil structure and long-term carbon stability
Humate acts as a soil conditioner and biological stimulant, offering benefits like:
- Improved nutrient retention: Boosts cation exchange capacity (CEC), helping soil hold onto nutrients.
- Enhanced water-holding capacity: Helps soil retain moisture, especially in sandy or degraded soils.
- Microbial activation: Encourages beneficial microbes and earthworms, which support nutrient cycling.
- Root development: Promotes deeper, stronger root systems for better drought resistance and nutrient uptake
We source our humate from freshwater deposits of Leonardite. That’s important to us because many sources of humate are seawater-deposit sourced, and soil salinity issues can occur. We avoid any of those issues with proper sourcing.
How is BioChar Different From Charcoal?
Technically, biochar is a type of charcoal. Not all charcoal qualifies as biochar.
The charcoal you use on the grill when you’re camping is not anything you’d want to put in or on your soil. Often, it has additives (oil-based) that help those “briquettes” burn better. The pyrolysis process for charcoal optimizes the end product for burning. And when you burn charcoal, it becomes ash with CO2 and other gases emitted into the atmosphere.
For filtration purposes, charcoal can be “activated” using an energy-intensive chemical or steam process. Activated charcoal is used in medicine, air, and water filtration.
Biochar, on the other hand, is used for soil health and carbon sequestration. When biochar is incorporated into the soil, the inert carbon molecules end up as sequestered carbon for hundreds if not thousands of years. The massive pore structure in biochar serves as a luxury condo for microbes and it improves soil structure while increasing the rate of nutrient cycling.
Biochar removes carbon from the atmosphere; charcoal adds carbon both during production and burning.
The charcoal you use on the grill when you’re camping is not anything you’d want to put in or on your soil. Often, it has additives (oil-based) that help those “briquettes” burn better. The pyrolysis process for charcoal optimizes the end product for burning. And when you burn charcoal, it becomes ash with CO2 and other gases emitted into the atmosphere.
For filtration purposes, charcoal can be “activated” using an energy-intensive chemical or steam process. Activated charcoal is used in medicine, air, and water filtration.
Biochar, on the other hand, is used for soil health and carbon sequestration. When biochar is incorporated into the soil, the inert carbon molecules end up as sequestered carbon for hundreds if not thousands of years. The massive pore structure in biochar serves as a luxury condo for microbes and it improves soil structure while increasing the rate of nutrient cycling.
Biochar removes carbon from the atmosphere; charcoal adds carbon both during production and burning.
Why Don’t More People Use Biochar?
There are several reasons people aren’t using biochar for its benefits as a soil amendment, the primary one is a lack of awareness of those benefits.
There has also been difficulty finding biochar at the retail level because of a lack of infrastructure. That is changing, and you can now find biochar blends in most retail outlets that carry soil amendments. If you don’t find it in your store, ask, and most retailers can order biochar for you.
There has also been difficulty finding biochar at the retail level because of a lack of infrastructure. That is changing, and you can now find biochar blends in most retail outlets that carry soil amendments. If you don’t find it in your store, ask, and most retailers can order biochar for you.
What is the Difference Between VITAL Blend and VITAL Blend 5M?
VITAL Blend is a granular blend of activated BioChar and freshwater-sourced Humate. We charge our BioChar with the Humate for a perfect combination; it is foundational, effective by itself, or blended with composts, fertilizers, or other mixtures.
The BioChar is USDA Certified Biobased and the Humate (ACTIV80 AG from Black Earth) is OMRI Listed, and the blend has a pH value of just below 7.0 – perfect for soil nutrient availability. The Biochar increases the soil’s porosity, and the Humate provides nutrients and high-energy food for the soil microbes.
VITAL Blend 5M is the liquid equivalent of the granular formula. It is an organic liquid soil amendment that combines 5 micron-sized, activated BioChar (NAKED Char 5M) with freshwater-sourced liquid Humate (Leonardite).
It can be used in any spray equipment and won’t clog. It is a good alternative for foliar applications and new plantings.
We don’t use the word organic lightly; our BioChar and Humate are both OMRI Listed, and our BioChar is also IBI Certified (International Biochar Initiative) and USDA BioPreferred.
The BioChar is USDA Certified Biobased and the Humate (ACTIV80 AG from Black Earth) is OMRI Listed, and the blend has a pH value of just below 7.0 – perfect for soil nutrient availability. The Biochar increases the soil’s porosity, and the Humate provides nutrients and high-energy food for the soil microbes.
VITAL Blend 5M is the liquid equivalent of the granular formula. It is an organic liquid soil amendment that combines 5 micron-sized, activated BioChar (NAKED Char 5M) with freshwater-sourced liquid Humate (Leonardite).
It can be used in any spray equipment and won’t clog. It is a good alternative for foliar applications and new plantings.
We don’t use the word organic lightly; our BioChar and Humate are both OMRI Listed, and our BioChar is also IBI Certified (International Biochar Initiative) and USDA BioPreferred.
What Makes BioChar An Eco-Friendly Soil Amendment?
The #1 reason is how much it improves soil health. Biochar acts as a luxury condo for beneficial soil microbiology. Whenever you have a strong population of beneficial microbes in your soil, there’s little real estate for pathogens. That helps your plant health and decreases the pesticides and fungicides you need.
The immense porosity of biochar improves soil structure by breaking up clay and adding organic matter to sandy soil. With better soil structure, you have improved nutrient retention, increased water-holding capacity, and an increased cation exchange capacity.
Biochar sequesters carbon, and your fields and gardens can be carbon sinks. It helps combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from organic matter that otherwise would be decomposing. Biochar is the pyrolysis of organic material in the absence of oxygen.
The immense porosity of biochar improves soil structure by breaking up clay and adding organic matter to sandy soil. With better soil structure, you have improved nutrient retention, increased water-holding capacity, and an increased cation exchange capacity.
Biochar sequesters carbon, and your fields and gardens can be carbon sinks. It helps combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from organic matter that otherwise would be decomposing. Biochar is the pyrolysis of organic material in the absence of oxygen.
How do I Apply Biochar?
This is a very frequently asked question! The answer depends on the type of biochar and your goal.
The feedstock (organic material) and pyrolysis time determine the characteristics of the biochar. There isn’t a single BIOCHAR but multiple BIOCHARS.
At American BioChar Company, we offer biochar blends in liquid and granular forms that can be applied through a spray system or added to horticultural potting soil. They can also be used as a soil amendment directly in the garden or field.
The rate of application is very low. It costs about $20.00 to cover 1/4 acre with our VITAL Blend 5M liquid biochar blend.
The feedstock (organic material) and pyrolysis time determine the characteristics of the biochar. There isn’t a single BIOCHAR but multiple BIOCHARS.
At American BioChar Company, we offer biochar blends in liquid and granular forms that can be applied through a spray system or added to horticultural potting soil. They can also be used as a soil amendment directly in the garden or field.
The rate of application is very low. It costs about $20.00 to cover 1/4 acre with our VITAL Blend 5M liquid biochar blend.
Can I Use Too Much VITAL Blend or VITAL Blend 5M?
The short answer is yes.
As with all soil amendments, the right amount at the right time is important.
Research shows that too much of a biochar blend will decrease yield and stunt growth. All soil amendments, used in excess, will either leach away or be detrimental to plant health.
Biochar blends keep nutrients in the plant root zone and decrease leaching. Our VITAL Blend and VITAL Blend 5M biochar blends are formulated for long-term soil health. The humates provide short-term microbial fuel to jumpstart plant growth.
Contact us for specifics on use rates. Our products are concentrated so you’ll need less than you may think.
As with all soil amendments, the right amount at the right time is important.
Research shows that too much of a biochar blend will decrease yield and stunt growth. All soil amendments, used in excess, will either leach away or be detrimental to plant health.
Biochar blends keep nutrients in the plant root zone and decrease leaching. Our VITAL Blend and VITAL Blend 5M biochar blends are formulated for long-term soil health. The humates provide short-term microbial fuel to jumpstart plant growth.
Contact us for specifics on use rates. Our products are concentrated so you’ll need less than you may think.
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Let’s grow a sustainable future together! We’re excited to partner with farmers, businesses, and communities to drive innovation and success in agriculture.