How To Inoculate Biochar - Easy Step-By-Step Process

Biochar can work real magic for your garden and it helps to mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon longterm.
For Biochar to work at its best you have to inoculate or activate it. During this process, you are charging the biochar with nutrients and beneficial microorganisms. If you apply biochar without charging it to your garden soil it will rob available nutrients. The result will be stunted growth of your plants instead of the expected benefits of better growth and resilience.
Learn more about the benefits of biochar here: www.gardening-advice.net/what...

[@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14]

I typically add 6 gallons of urine to 5 gallons of charcoal to fully absorb it all (it takes a LOT of liquid in) and a little flour and sugar. I just finished crushing and sifting ten gallons of charcoal, so this time I will also be adding some bone powder I made in the chipper, coffee grounds, some humus and compost. This should give me around 15 gallons of biochar in a month or so. I add 10 gallons to each new 4x8 raised bed at a time, then another 5 gallons per 6" tier, as I build it up with more compost to my desired depth.

[@rodelocana1043]

Hi,
• I'd like to ask how much compost is added to a 5 gallon biochar?
• Should it be stored 3 or 7 months?
Thank you .

[@UrbanGardeningWithD.A.Hanks14]

@@rodelocana1043 I add a shovelful along with the other stuff for some added benefit, but I predominantly charge 5 gallons of char with 6 gallons of urine. Once it absorbs all of the liquid, add a little more as needed to keep it damp. Urine will charge it in a week or two.
Even if it dries out once it's charged, it will not hurt it, except for maybe letting the bacteria die, but they can be charged back into damp char. The minerals won't die or evaporate, so they'll still be there. Nitrogen is the big concern; uncharged char robbing it from the soil, but once it's charged up, it should remain in place, even if it's dried out.

[@Insapientis]

thank you

[@MotosAllotmentGarden]

😊👍

[@anthonyromano8565]

I use Azomite, kelp, alfalfa, worm castings tea soak until saturated for about an hour or so then mix it into my super soil with 20 percent castings and let that cook a few weeks. Probably inoculated with mycoryzae. at some point in the process. My thought was not to let it get aerobic.

[@Tinaejs]

Just the information I was looking for! I have 2 questions:
- Does the biochar have to be bigger than dust (I have crushed my first batch the realized maybe I should have charged it first).
- Does this process mitigate the amount of salts and should I worry about that?
Thank you!

[@mattyitto2346]

Do you drain the biochar then add to soil or broadcast liquid and all?

[@ms.ellaneous47]

Instead of molasses could I use brown sugar?

[@elenaantunes1263]

Please consider making an introduction video. Who you are. where you are and maybe how long you’ve been gardening. Thanks for this good explanation on how to inoculate your biochar!

[@nicomringo4606]

Greet lesson can I use fish emulsion to inoculate biochar?

[@Gardening4Climate]

Hi Nico...yes...that should work as well! Anything with a good range of nutrients...

[@nicomringo4606]

Thank you a lot

[@walidzahran601]

I have one ton of biochar tinny pieces. What's the quantities needed to inculcate it and times schedule. Also how much space to cover in pure sand land to plant plant grasses and legumes?

[@BigBodyBiggolo]

The biochar needs to have some natural fertiliser for fungus to grow, best is to use compost tea, it takes 2 weeks or a month to become charged with fungus.
I do not know if biochar alone is good enough for sand soil, have you tried this?
I am very interested if this works, hope you have good luck!

[@walidzahran601]

@@BigBodyBiggolo I will try and send you updates

[@BigBodyBiggolo]

@@walidzahran601 Thank you for the quick reply! In what area of the world are you living? Im from the Netherlands and the soil here is already pretty good

[@walidzahran601]

I am living in Egypt 🇪🇬 thank you for your interest

[@Roo986]

Any updates on your biochar project Walid?

[@Desmond000007]

I dont think there are any rock eating organisms in there...

[@kkrollingskkrollings3173]

Do u ask the same question on every biochar video

[@Desmond000007]

@@kkrollingskkrollings3173 Yes!

[@masrurbule2868]

@@Desmond000007 It's the mineral (salt) that the organisms eat not the rock, the minerals will leach out just like our sea water become salty. You can add small amount of sea salt to your garden to feed your microbe with minerals, but rock dust provide a slow releasing mineral process. Hope you find this info helpful

[@Desmond000007]

@@masrurbule2868 Oh, interesting. Dont salt kill microbes, or slow them down? Isnt the mineral content in salt super low? Even in himalaya salt. Not trying to be a smartass

[@rlpittman100]

@@Desmond000007 sea salt water is used in soil should be diluted by a ratio of 1 to 30 . this is figured to be between 1 to 2 grams sea salt per liter of water