06-10-2025, 11:04 PM
Yes! I ran a side-by-side trial last rainy season—maize on sandy loam with and without biochar.
Biochar plots held moisture better and reduced nitrogen leaching. Yield was up by about 15–18%.
Just make sure the biochar is fully cooled and “charged” (composted or soaked in manure tea) before application. Raw biochar can actually rob nutrients from the soil and lead to low yield.
Biochar is carbon. Generally materials high in carbon will rob nutrients from the soil. Dry grass, sawdust etc are high in carbon.
Biochar plots held moisture better and reduced nitrogen leaching. Yield was up by about 15–18%.
Just make sure the biochar is fully cooled and “charged” (composted or soaked in manure tea) before application. Raw biochar can actually rob nutrients from the soil and lead to low yield.
Biochar is carbon. Generally materials high in carbon will rob nutrients from the soil. Dry grass, sawdust etc are high in carbon.
