Biochar

[rary]

Having come across the word biochar in several gardening topics, I wondered if anyone has used this in their vegetable garden, I know there are some companies marketing this but I would like to know of any proven results of using it, I have seen the Horizon film on utube but would still like to know if there are any of todays gardeners using it and are happy with the results

[ameno]

Biochar is basically just charcoal. It's almost pure carbon and is fairly inert, decomposing only very slowly.
It helps to improve drainage and water retention, just like any organic matter would.
The only one of its "unique" claims which has been reasonably well proven is that it helps to alleviate the problems associated with waterlogging in pots, as charcoal is good as absorbing toxins (which are created through anaerobic decomposition whilst the pot is waterlogged).

[rary]

Biochar is basically just charcoal. It's almost pure carbon and is fairly inert.

Apparently if untreated charcoal is added to your garden soil, it draws in a lot of the microbial life which is required for growth in the soil, biochar appears to be inoculated with microbes drawn from compost when added to it, or steeped in a liquid similar to a compost tea, therefore you are adding beneficial microbes to your soil and creating a long life benefit to the soil. But as I haven't used it I thought I would ask if anyone could verify the results of using it