When added to organic fertilisers like slurry or farmyard manure, or indirectly as a component of bedding, biochar can significantly improve its nutrient value to crops while decreasing carbon and nitrogen losses. This not only decreases ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from the manure, but can also reduce the amount of mineral fertiliser needed on farm. In this Biochar Basics, we talk about how you can use biochar to make the most of your manure.

On farm, our biochar is a valuable addition to animal bedding in both cubicles and loose housing. When added to a base bedding material such as straw other mixed with sawdust, our biochar can provide benefits including: improved nutrient retention, decreased ammonia emissions, improved foot health and odour control. This Biochar Basics will explain how it works to provide these benefits, and how to use it to get the best outcome on your farm.

Given the vast array of potential benefits, use systems, and available feedstocks, navigating how to best implement biochar use on farm is not always straightforward. Understanding how biochar works to deliver sustainability and soil health improvements will help guide you in selecting the right biochar products and achieving your desired outcomes.