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Delinat-Institut für Ökologie und Klimafarming
Ways of Making Terra Preta: Biochar Activation
by Hans-Peter Schmidt (Delinat-Institute)

Biochar is not a fertilizer, but rather a nutrient carrier and a habitat for
microorganisms. First of all it has to be charged to be biologically active in order to
efficiently utilize its soil-enhancing properties. There are numerous methods of
activating and producing substrates similar to Terra Preta aside from mixing biochar
with compost.

Biochar is extremely porous and has a huge surface area of partly 300 m2 per gram.
Due to its high porosity, biochar can take up water including the dissolved nutrients
of up to five times its own weight. This property is called adsorption capacity (AC) of
biochar, which depends on the pyrolyzed biomass and the pyrolysis temperature.
Biochar's highest adsorption capacity is achieved within the temperature range of
450 ° C to 700 ° C.

Porosity of a coal ash also clearly visible to the naked eye. (Photo: Andreas Thomsen)
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Another important feature worthy of explaining with regard to biochar's particular
nutrient dynamics is the high cation exchange capacity (CEC). It is a measure of the
ability to bind positively charged ions (cations) on biochar's surface and make them
available again under appropriate conditions to plants and microorganisms. CEC also
depends on the surface of biochar. However, it is a chemical value, which increases
through oxygen and contact with the soil and reaches its maximum value only after
some time. A high CEC prevents the leaching of mineral nutrients such as organic
nutrients and assures a higher nutrient availability. A high CEC also binds toxic
molecules, thereby protecting the soil.

Thus, the high biochar AC and CEC make it a perfect nutrient carrier. Microorganisms
find ideal habitats in and around the biochar through these absorbed nutrients,
which, in turn, benefit the entire soil microbial life and increase the potential for
symbiotic microorganisms and plant roots.

Principles of biochar charging

If biochar is incorporated pure and without activation into the soil, its high
adsorption capacity and increasing CEC will result in the absorption and fixing of
available nutrients and water in the soil. This in turn may lead to inhibition of plant
growth, at least in the beginning (several months to a year) and depending on the
soil's nutrient content. To prevent this, it is recommended that prior to biochar's
application, biochar should be:

1. loaded with nutrients and water

2. colonized with microorganisms, so that the fixed nutrients are more easily
available to plants
3. aged by oxidation, to bring CEC close to its maximum.
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The experiment by Andreas Thomsen clearly shows the importance of
charging biochar. In the picture, the upper portion shows the series of
experiments wherein pure biochar particles were added in increasing
dosage. In the lower series of the picture, the biochar was first composted
for 4 months and then was cleaned of compost to make sure that only
the charged biochar in the experiment was used. While pure biochar
resulted in growth inhibition of mustard plants, charged biochar showed
a significant increase in growth (thanks to Andreas Thomsen).

There are many different viable processes in charging biochar and thus producing
Terra Treta like substrates. These are adjusted and modified depending on
location, culture, climate, and existing techniques. Many of these procedures
have evolved over time or in accordance with good agricultural practice. There is
no universal formula (although patents have already been registered …), however,
the following basic principles hold:

1. enough moisture so that nutrients can dissolve and the pores of the coal
can charge a very high diversity of organic nutrients in order to prevent
shortage of certain nutrients the most important nutrients for microbial
colonization are organic carbon and nitrogen, which are particularly
limiting in fresh coal
2. the C / N ratio of the biochar-substrate should be 25 to35
3. the duration of the charge should be at least 14 days
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4. inoculation with soil-borne microbes by the addition of humus-rich soil,
compost tea, compost, or by selected microorganisms

Soil from a vegetable patch with biochar compost (about 25 cm deep). An

earthworm has lined its path with biochar-containing solution. By the way,
earthworms: many laboratory tests have shown that these animals are a
great lover of biochar substrates. Diameter about 4 mm. (Photo: Andreas
Thomsen)

The following are four systems of procedures which are examples of the practical
implementation of biochar activation for agriculturally related quantities. All
procedures can also be adapted for a small garden and even a balcony:

A. Biochar with compost

The charging of biochar by addition and mixing of compost probably represents the
best way to produce Terra Preta similar substrates. Microbial stimulation is highest in
compost: nutrients are built into complex organic compounds and the final substrate
is already very close to the soil's humus. However, the mostly available composts are
of poor quality. Poor compost is tediously „digested“ in the ground and this leads to
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nutrient blockage and microbial imbalance. When you are not sure about the quality
of your compost, better resort to one of the following options in charging the
biochar. Good compost must have a crumbly structure similar to that of humus soil
and is not supposed to smell bad.

Ideally, biochar is added to the compost at about 10% of biomass already while
arranging the pile, to boost the compost's nutrient efficiency (see Fig.__ below).
Frequent “turning“ is important for oxygenation and homogenous distribution of
nutrients, which consequently promote microorganismal activity. A preliminary
experiment at the Delinat Institute has shown that the addition of biochar
significantly improved the reaction of the nitrogen compound stabilising and
significantly increasing plant-availability of nitrate (NO3). Nitrogen loss is slowed
down and with it, the emission of greenhouse gases. In a second, larger experiment,
this will be verified and investigated in detail. A separate article on the topic of
composting with biochar will be published in Ithaka.

The biochar produced with compost can be used again after rotting for charging
other fresh biochars. Mature composts that have not been composted with biochar
can also be used to activate biochar.

Stack the biochar inapproximately 1:1 volume ratio in the mature compost and
moisten both well. If possible, mix biochar and compost with a compost turner. This
process can be repeated several times until the ratio reaches 1:1. The mixture should
be prepared at least 2 weeks prior to its application into the soil and during that time
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should always be kept moist and turned at least twice.

B. Biochar with manure from livestock

A mixture of different manure types is preferable to one type of manure. Attention
should be given to a high straw content. Since the following method is not about
composting, the manure should be stored at least 1 year. It is better, however, if the
biochar is already used as bedding for the manure in the barn. Alternatively, it is also
possible to regularly spread the biochar in the septic tank.

The ratio of biochar to manure should be about 4 to 1. Depending on the cultural and
nutritional needs of the area, this ratio can be reduced.

1. Moisten the biochar with plenty of water.

2. Spread out the biochar into strips/bands of about 120 cm width and a height
of about 5 cm on a humus-rich soil, when possible.
3. Spread over it a 3 cm thick layer of manure.
4. Put 1% rock flour into it (not necessary, but it improves the quality of the
substrate).
5. If the manure to be mixed is not high in straw content, put layers of about
10% grass, corn silage or greenwaste into it.
6. Spread over it another layer of biochar.
7. Moisten the whole with as much water as possible (if possible, put compost
tea or EM-A [Effective Microorganisms]).
8. If the ground in which the mixture will be used is too firm and less
productive, a layer of fresh, fertile, soil should be added for microbial
colonization of the substrate to take place.
9. Roll over the band with a rotovator at least twice to thoroughly mix the
substrate.
10. Keep the mixture always well moisturized for 14 days and stir it every 3 days
with the rotovator. It is recommended to cover it with fleece.
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Activating biochar through Method 2 in the winery Pago Casa Gran, southern
Spain.

C. Biochar with liquid fertilizers

1. Calculate the amount of fertilizer you need for a given area. Mixing with
biochar reduces leaching and outgassing of nutrients, so that fertilizer
efficiency increases significantly and a total of only half of the
conventionally calculated amount is required.
2. Make sure that the fertilizer contains not only the main elements, N, P, K,
Mg, but has a very high mineral diversity. In case of doubt, add some rock
flour.
3. Dissolve the calculated amount of mineral fertilizer in sufficient water.
4. Give as much biochar in a period of 2 days to allow complete absorption of
the added liquid

Organic liquid fertilizer is preferably used for charging instead of NPK fertilizer.
Liquid animal manure is an excellent example to use for charging biochar.

Variant C is not about microbial colonization. In this case this will take place in the
soil. In organic farming, mineral fertilizer trade is prohibited.

D. Biochar - Bokashi (lactic acid fermentation of biomass)

biomass)
1. Mix straw-rich manure with 10% grass clippings, 10% biochar and 1% rock
flour
2. Spray the biomass with a solution of 3% EM-A and 3% cane molasses.
(Alternatively, instead of EM-A, Sauerkraut [pickled cabbage] juice, Brottrunk
[a particular juice manufactured from bread], or juices containing enzymes
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with similar high amount of lactic acid bacteria can be used. This can
prolong the fermentation process depending on the mixture.)
3. Compress the pile by driving on it with a tractor repeatedly as shown above
(see picture).
4. Cover the pile with an airtight suction foil. Cover the whole thing with a
black foil and load it with gravel bags. (On a smaller scale, this can be carried
out in closed containers such as buckets, barrels, or plastic bags.)
5. Remove the foil after 14 - 21 days, depending on ambient temperature. The
product will smell slightly like lactic acid!
6. To activate a larger amount of biochar, the Bokashi can be filled up to 50%
(vol) of biochar. (for Terra Preta similar substrates, this additional amount of
coal is not necessary).
7. Water and mix the heap with a compost turner or rotovator and let it aerate
for several days . To inoculate it with soil-borne micro-organisms, add some
fresh soil.

Compressing a biochar-manure mixture before covering it with an air-

tight foil. Bokashi fermentation is an anaerobic process. (Photo: Rolf
Zimmermann)

Incubation
Incubation in the soil
The activated biochar and Terra Preta similar substrates should be incorporated
superficially in the soil. If the appropriate technology is not available, the substrate
may also be simply spread on the ground. The anxious mixing by worms in the soil
takes a little longer.