Features Agronomy Applications Environment Research Field Crops Manure Management United States
Farmers learn from biochar research at demonstration farm

August 17, 2017, Fruitland, IA — All farmers know that crops need nutrients to grow, particularly carbon. That’s why they spread manure or compost on their fields. But compost fades fast — half of its carbon degrades in five to eight years.

In recent years, biochar has been hailed by some as an alternative to manure or compost, but  biochar is expensive and poor quality biochar can increase the soil’s acidity, damaging crops. READ MORE