Biochar-Enhanced Compost Agriculture Related Resources

  • A digital article preview showing ripe tomatoes on a vine with green leaves, highlighting the benefits of biochar for plant growth. The title reads "Biochar Increases Plant Survival" and the main text discusses water savings and increased yields.

    Fact Sheet: Biochar Increases Plant Survival

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  • Cover page of a guide titled 'Biochar Guidelines for Agriculture Applications' with a photo of a tractor tilling a field. The guide is from the US Biochar Initiative with the website biochar-us.org.

    Biochar Agriculture Application Guide - USBI

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  • A green tractor is working in a dry, plowed farmland field under a clear sky. The image appears to be part of an agricultural guide document with Spanish text and QR codes.

    Guía Del Biochar para Usos Agrícolas - USBI

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  • Poster about biochar application and soil health. Features a photo of plants in soil and text outlining how biochar impacts soil by increasing moisture, water availability, microbial activity, pH, and other factors.

    Beyond Application: Learning More about Biochar - USBI

    This factsheet covers assistance applying biochar, fertilizer / liming value of biochars, biochar persistence in soils, and farmer's barriers to adoption.

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  • Screenshot of a website with a banner image of a landscape with green hills, trees, and a blue sky with clouds. The text overlay says "Apply the right Biochar".

    PNW Biochar Atlas

    The “Atlas was produced by Kristin M. Trippe of the USDA Agricultural Research Service Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit, in Corvallis, Oregon and Claire Phillips, now at the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Ames, IA.”

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  • Screenshot of a webpage titled 'Biomass to Biochar: Maximizing the Carbon Value' from the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, featuring images of forests, biochar, and vineyards.

    Biomass to Biochar: Maximizing the Carbon Value

    “Forty biochar producers, practitioners, scientists, and engineers held a virtual workshop in April 2020 to chart a roadmap for future development of the biochar industry in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.”

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  • A person holding two types of organic waste, one side showing dry plant material and the other side showing charred black charcoal, with a background of a sandy outdoor area.

    Biochar in Compost and Field Trials

    WA Department of Ecology (Chapters 3-5)

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  • Document titled 'Best Practices for Biochar-Enhanced Compost Production' by Kulshan Carbon Trust, 2024, with the logo of KCT or Kulshan Carbon Trust in the top right corner.

    Best Practices for Biochar-Enhanced Compost Production

    Developed by KCT and pulling from a variety of sources, this document provides context and research backed best practices for the production of biochar enhanced compost.

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NRCS Web Soil Survey

The NRCS Web Soil Survey (WSS) tool allows anyone to explore the properties of soils across the United States. This tool has a feature dedicated to biochar and understanding it’s benefits at specific sites. Use the steps provided to learn more.

    1. Open the Web Soil Survey website and click the green button to Start WSS

    2. Enter an address or use the cursor to navigate to the area you wish to explore.

    3. Select Area of Interest (AOI) using AOI polygon tool, under the Area of Interest Interactive Map tab (far right button). Click to add points and highlight the area you wish to explore. Double click to save and exit the AOI tool.

    1. After selecting your Area of Interest (AOI), navigate to the Soil Data Explorer Tab, located to the right of the Area of Interest tab.

    2. Choose the Suitabilities and Limitations for Use sub-tab.

    3. From the sidebar on the left, choose Soil Heath and then Dynamic Soil Properties Response to Biochar from the drop down menu.

    4. Click View Rating. The page will refresh.

    5. You can now scroll down to see an interpretation of the results.

  • Scroll down to see the percent area of soils that would excellent, good, or fair response to biochar. Some soils may be unsuited for biochar.

    Keep in mind that this tool is explores biochar application alone, rather than biochar-enhanced compost. The WSS tool is intended to provide insights into the potential benefits biochar application could provide, however the results generated do not qualify or disqualify study participants.

  • Additional NRCS Web Soil Survey Resources:

    1. Web Soil Survey General Tutorial

    2. Web Soil Survey Tips and Shortcuts

Screenshot of a soil survey website map of the region around San Juan, Washington, showing bodies of water, roads, and towns, with a focus on the area around Bellingham and Ferndale.