Balancing Carbon in the Atmosphere and Soil
What is Biochar?
Biochar is a high carbon content, charcoal-like material, made by heating plant matter to temperatures above 400 degrees C in a low- to no-oxygen environment. Biochar is valuable as a soil restructuring agent that enhances plant growth and health by improving the following soil characteristics: moisture retention, nutrient retention, provision of a beneficial microbe habitat, and soil pliability. Nutrients that are adsorbed onto the surface of biochar's porous structure become more readily available to plants through an enhanced ionic exchange capacity. The introduction of biochar into soils provides a home for beneficial microbes to thrive. These beneficial microbes stimulate mycorrhizal fungi, which in turn help plants thrive through improved plant root health. Furthermore, the amendment of biochar into soils is a means by which carbon is removed from the atmosphere. This also increases soil organic carbon.
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SoilMatrix is AirTerra's biochar-fortified soil product line. The SoilMatrix brand can be associated with high quality biochar-enhanced soil products. AirTerra's initial soil product is a pure biochar that can be blended with compost and/or nutrient rich garden soils to allow for all of biochar's benefits to be blended into garden soils.
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For People & Planet
The use of biochar in soils contributes to a healthy planet by balancing carbon in the atmosphere and the soil. Furthermore, AirTerra works with people in developing countries to promote the use of life-saving clean and efficient cooking stoves that have the added benefit of producing biochar as a byproduct of cooking. AirTerra also promotes the use of biochar produced by these stoves to make biochar-fortified organic fertilizers. Read more and view videos about AirTerra's activities in Kenya and Malawi.
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