Biochar: Making and Using Australias Ancient Soil Amendment

An Ancient TechnologyBiochar — charcoal produced by pyrolysis (heating organic material in low-oxygen conditions) — is not a modern invention. The extraordinarily fertile terra preta soils of the Amazon basin, created by pre-Columbian Indigenous peoples, are defined by their high biochar content. Unlike organic matter, which decomposes within years, biochar is stable in soil for hundreds to thousands of years, continuously improving soil structure, water retention, and biological activity.Be…