Biochar applications

One material.
Six ways to put Biochar to work.

From farms and greenhouses to restoration, filtration, and odour management, Biochar performs best when its grade, preparation, and application rate are matched to the project.

Explore the applications

01 / Agriculture

Farms, vineyards & orchards

Make every irrigation and fertilizer decision work more efficiently. A project-matched Biochar will create a more resilient root zone, especially where water stress limits crop performance.

Where it fits

Field crops, vineyards, orchards, pastures, row planting, compost blends, and soil-rebuilding programs.

What it will support

Water and nutrient retention, soil structure, root-zone habitat, and long-term carbon storage.

Four-year vineyard field evidence

In a non-irrigated Tuscan vineyard, Biochar increased grape yield in every harvest year without significantly changing the measured grape-quality parameters. The strongest yield responses occurred in drier years.

Annual yield gains ranged from 16% to 66% compared with the untreated control.
Yield response was inversely related to rainfall during the vegetative period, suggesting particular value under water stress.
Related measurements reported more plant-available soil water and improved vine water status during drought.

The application rates in this field trial were high. Results should be interpreted for the site, crop, soil, and Biochar used—not as a universal yield promise.

Genesio, L., Miglietta, F., Baronti, S., & Vaccari, F. P. (2015). Biochar increases vineyard productivity without affecting grape quality: Results from a four years field experiment in Tuscany. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 201, 20–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2014.11.021

Talk to a specialist about agricultural Biochar

02 / Controlled growing

Nurseries & greenhouses

Build a lighter, longer-lasting growing mix that will hold moisture and nutrients without sacrificing the air space young roots need.

Where it fits

Propagation, nursery containers, greenhouse crops, potting mixes, living soil, and peat-reduction trials.

What it will support

Moisture management, aeration, nutrient holding, and durable pore space in growing media.

Greenhouse growing-media evidence

A University of Illinois marigold study tested softwood Biochar as a partial replacement for peat moss in a standard peat-perlite substrate.

At 10%–30% of the total mix, plants produced greater biomass and leaf greenness than the peat-perlite control.
Unadjusted mixes containing up to 70% Biochar did not reduce final biomass or flowering in this crop.
Substrate pH changed during production, showing why crop-specific pH and fertility testing matters before scaling up.

The researchers found that pH-adjusted high-Biochar mixes could inhibit germination. Start with controlled trials using the exact crop, irrigation water, fertilizer program, and Biochar intended for production.

Margenot, A. J., Griffin, D. E., Alves, B. S. Q., Rippner, D. A., Li, C., & Parikh, S. J. (2018). Substitution of peat moss with softwood Biochar for soil-free marigold growth. Industrial Crops and Products, 112, 160–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.10.053

Talk to a specialist about growing-media Biochar

03 / Managed landscapes

Landscaping & golf

Turn compacted, fast-drying soil into a better platform for turf, trees, and high-use landscapes—without relying on a short-lived amendment.

Where it fits

Turf establishment, golf construction, sports fields, urban trees, roadside soils, rain gardens, and compacted landscapes.

What it will support

Water storage, drainage balance, reduced runoff, soil structure, and establishment in difficult soils.

Compacted turf-soil evidence

A University of Delaware study evaluated wood Biochar and turfgrass in simulated roadside soils with different compaction levels.

Runoff reduction and water retention generally increased as Biochar content increased.
The most pronounced responses occurred in highly compacted soil—the conditions where landscape establishment is often most difficult.
Imaging showed changes in soil structure, while improvements in water-stable aggregation were limited during the one-year study.

This was a controlled, early-stage study. Field design should still account for soil texture, compaction, drainage, turf species, and maintenance practices.

Bowser, M. (2023). The impact of a wood Biochar on stormwater retention and infiltration in roadside soils seeded with turfgrass [Master’s thesis, University of Delaware]. University of Delaware Institutional Repository. https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/33412

Talk to a specialist about landscape Biochar

04 / Home growing

Home gardens & hobby farms

Help compost, water, and fertilizer stay useful for longer. In the right soil, Biochar will turn everyday garden inputs into a more efficient growing system.

Where it fits

Vegetable beds, fruit trees, lawns, compost piles, manure, hobby farms, planting holes, and container gardens.

What it will support

Moisture and nutrient retention, compost conditioning, soil biology, and long-lived soil carbon.

Vegetable-production evidence

Two field studies show why garden results depend on the starting soil and on how Biochar is combined with nutrients or compost.

In a three-year Maine vegetable trial, compost-based amendments improved soil properties and yield; adding Biochar further increased soil pH, cation-exchange capacity, and calcium.
The Biochar-plus-compost treatment produced the highest overall bean and zucchini yields, although yields were not significantly higher than compost alone.
In nutrient-poor Timor-Leste soils, rice-husk Biochar produced its strongest vegetable responses at the acidic site, where average yield across chilli, tomato, and soybean was 230% above the control.
Combining phosphate fertilizer with Biochar improved several crop responses over Biochar alone, reinforcing that Biochar works as part of a complete fertility plan.

These trials used different Biochars, climates, crops, and soils. Test soil pH and fertility first, and charge or blend Biochar with compost or nutrients when appropriate.

Larkin, R. P. (2025). Evaluation of Biochar and humus amendments, and early season insect netting on soil properties, crop yield, and pest management in organic vegetable production in Maine. Agronomy, 15(11), 2567. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112567

Williams, R., Belo, J. B., Lidia, J., Soares, S., Ribeiro, D., Moreira, C. L., Almeida, L., Barton, L., & Erskine, W. (2023). Productivity gains in vegetables from rice husk Biochar application in nutrient-poor soils in Timor-Leste. Scientific Reports, 13, 10858. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38072-2

Talk to a specialist about garden and hobby-farm Biochar

05 / Restoration

Industrial sites & land reclamation

Give disturbed land a better starting point. Site-matched woody Biochar will help rebuild the soil functions needed for vegetation, water management, and long-term recovery.

Where it fits

Mine lands, disturbed soils, brownfields, erosion control, revegetation, roadside restoration, and engineered soil blends.

What it will support

Soil properties, plant cover, water management, and binding of some metals and contaminants.

Mine-land restoration evidence

A formally reviewed U.S. Forest Service synthesis evaluated woody Biochar as a restoration tool for abandoned mine lands.

The review identifies potential to improve degraded soil properties and rebuild productive capacity.
Biochar may support sustainable plant cover, helping limit erosion and contaminant leaching.
Depending on the material and site chemistry, Biochar will bind some heavy metals or reduce concentrations of selected toxic chemicals.
Converting forest residues into Biochar will also reduce slash-pile burning, particulate emissions, and forest fuel loads.

Reclamation requires laboratory characterization and site trials. Contaminants, pH, salinity, plant species, and amendment blends must be evaluated before full-scale use.

Rodriguez-Franco, C., & Page-Dumroese, D. S. (2021). Woody Biochar potential for abandoned mine land restoration in the U.S.: A review. Biochar, 3, 7–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-020-00074-y

Talk to a specialist about reclamation Biochar

06 / Environmental systems

Water filtration & odour control

Use purpose-selected Biochar as an engineered medium for difficult water, nutrient, moisture, and emission challenges—not simply as a generic filter.

Where it fits

Filter media, nutrient capture, stormwater trials, manure handling, animal bedding, composting, and moisture-management systems.

What it will support

Adsorption, nutrient capture, moisture control, and reduction of selected gaseous emissions.

Odour and ammonia-control evidence

Controlled manure studies show that the right Biochar system will target both odorous sulfur compounds and ammonia—but the Biochar type, treatment, dose, and timing determine the result.

In chicken-manure composting, Biochar reduced total malodorous sulfur-containing emissions by 65.3% while supporting compost maturity.
Biochar alone did not reduce ammonia in that trial. When combined with superphosphate and magnesium sulfate, the treatment reduced dimethyl disulfide by 86.8%, hydrogen sulfide by 35.3%, dimethyl sulfide by 92.8%, and ammonia by 38.8%.
In a separate four-month liquid-manure storage trial, acid-activated Biochar used as a 7 mm floating surface layer reduced ammonia emissions by 37–51% during the first month.
Across the full four-month storage period, the activated Biochars achieved a 25–28% ammonia reduction, although effectiveness declined over time.
These results show that Biochar will become part of an odour- and ammonia-management plan, especially when its chemistry and application method are designed for the specific manure or compost system.

Odour is a mixture of compounds, not a single measurement. Full-scale systems should be selected and tested for the target gases, manure chemistry, moisture, airflow, contact time, and replacement schedule.

Liu, Y., Ma, R., Tang, R., Zheng, G., Li, G., Yin, J., & Yuan, J. (2024). Phosphate, magnesium containing additives and Biochar regulate compost maturity and synergistically reduce odor emission in chicken manure composting: Role of physicochemical, bacterial and fungal dynamics. Journal of Environmental Management, 371, 123205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123205

Baral, K. R., McIlroy, J., Lyons, G., & Johnston, C. (2023). The effect of Biochar and acid activated Biochar on ammonia emissions during manure storage. Environmental Pollution, 317, 120815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120815

Talk to a specialist about filtration or odour-control Biochar

The right fit matters

Biochar is not one-size-fits-all.

Feedstock, production conditions, particle size, pH, application rate, and preparation influence performance. Silvachar can help match the material and method to your soil, growing system, water, odour, or restoration project.

Talk to a Biochar specialist

One material.
Six ways to put Biochar to work.

Farms, vineyards & orchards

Nurseries & greenhouses

Landscaping & golf

Home gardens & hobby farms

Industrial sites & land reclamation

Water filtration & odour control

Biochar is not one-size-fits-all.

Talk to a Biochar specialist.

Made in British Columbia.
Ready for your project.

How can we help?

One material.Six ways to put Biochar to work.

Farms, vineyards & orchards

Nurseries & greenhouses

Landscaping & golf

Home gardens & hobby farms

Industrial sites & land reclamation

Water filtration & odour control

Biochar is not one-size-fits-all.

Talk to a Biochar specialist.

Made in British Columbia.Ready for your project.

How can we help?

See what Silvachar is doing.

One material.
Six ways to put Biochar to work.

Made in British Columbia.
Ready for your project.