Biochar with wood vinegar (Gekka) 5 l

BIOCHAR S PLUS - charcoal impregnated with wood vinegar is organic material (usually wood) that is burned in a special way (under low oxygen) and is released into the soil in a charred state. It is highly porous, remains in the soil for a long time and has many useful properties.

The product contains charcoal and 30% wood vinegar

Benefits of small gardens:

Soil improvement

• Improves soil structure - In sandy or clayey soils in particular, it helps water retention and aeration.
• Retains nutrients - Helps retain nitrogen, phosphorus, etc., so they leach less.
• Increases soil pH - can be particularly beneficial in acid soils.

Water management

• Able to absorb a lot of water and release it gradually, reducing the need for irrigation.

Enhancing microbiological activity

• The porous structure provides shelter for soil microbes, which promotes healthy soil life.

Environmental benefits

• Carbon sequestration: charcoal keeps carbon stable in the soil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• When used in composting, it reduces methane and ammonia emissions.
  

How to use in small gardens

Dosage:

It is usually best to mix at a rate of 5-10% to the soil (e.g. 1 litre of biochar to 10 litres of soil).

It is also effective when mixed with compost (5-10%).

Excessive dosing can draw nutrients away from plants

Application time:

It is recommended to mix into the soil before planting.

For large-scale use, it can be incorporated as part of a crop rotation.

What to look out for?

• Do not mix with barbecue charcoal! They often contain chemicals (e.g. lighter, binders) and are not suitable for horticultural use.
• Too much can cause nutrient deficiencies if not prepared.

Homemade biochar activator recipe

Objective: Charcoal alone is nutrient poor and can draw nutrients from the soil without incorporation (activation). Therefore, it needs to be "topped up" with nutrients beforehand to be useful to plants.

Ingredients:

• 1 part porous, clean charcoal (barbecue charcoal is NOT good, only charcoal produced under controlled conditions without chemicals.
• 2 to 3 parts liquid organic plant nutrient solution (e.g. home-made nettle juice, compost tea, fermented weed juice, e.g. bokashi juice, or soil bacteria preparation)
• Equipment: bucket or barrel, mixing spoon

When used with liquid organic plant nutrient solution - what are the benefits?

Soil life stimulation

• Micro-organisms (e.g. bacteria, fungi) in the nutrient solution settle into the pores of the charcoal, where they find a protected and nutrient-rich habitat.
• This can lead to an explosion of microbial activity, which improves plant nutrient uptake.

pH neutralisation, repair

• Charcoal has a slightly alkaline chemistry, so in acidic soils it helps to raise pH, which is beneficial for most vegetable crops.
• Organic nutrient solutions can also balance chemistry, especially when based on fermented plant juices (e.g. nettle, hops, dandelion).

Increase water retention

• Charcoal acts as a sponge, absorbing moisture and nutrients dissolved in it.
• This gives plants longer access to water, even in drier periods.

Improving soil structure

• The small particles of charcoal loosen clay soil and stabilise sandy soil, improving air and water balance.
• It also increases the cation exchange capacity (CEC), which means that the soil can absorb more nutrients and make them available to plants.

Summary - what does activated biochar do?

Recommended dosage - activated biochar (granules approx. 1 cm)

Important: we are always talking about activated biochar, so use charcoal previously "topped up" with organic nutrient solution, (faecet) compost or manure.

Practical notes

• Mixing ratio to soil: 5-10% by volume to the top layer of soil. So for example if you have 20 litres of soil, 1-2 litres of biochar can go into it.
• Single or gradual?
• If you haven't used biochar before, it's a good idea to start with a smaller amount and then increase year by year.
• In the long term, it has a lasting effect, remaining in the soil for 5-10 years.
• For vines and trees:
• Best for planting, but can also be applied to existing stands by mixing in 10-15 cm around the plant (e.g. injected into the root zone or loosely tapped).

Tips for application

• Mixed with sand or compost it is easier to spread and evenly distribute.
• For permaculture methods (e.g. in bed borders, hugelkultur beds) is an excellent carbon stabilizer.
• With continuous use improves long-term soil structure, water balance and reduces fertiliser requirements.

Would you also like a simple calculation guide, e.g. how much is needed for a 10 m² vegetable bed or a row of vines? I'd be happy to put it together for you!

Ok, here is a detailed calculation for a 10 m² vegetable bed - using activated biochar.

How to apply it to the soil:

• Work it into the top 15-20 cm of soil with a rottavator, spade fork or hoe.
• It can be spread evenly and then mixed into the soil.

Convert quantity (e.g. if using bagged charcoal):