Biochar use in agriculture
Most biochar produced today is used in agricultural systems for improving soil health and managing nutrients and emissions from compost and animal manure.
In the field, biochar is applied much like other amendments — it can be incorporated directly into the soil, mixed with compost or manure, or broken into fine particles (micronized) for use in drip irrigation with specialty crop systems. Its internal pore structure and high surface area improves water and nutrient retention in soils, boosts microbial activity, and stores carbon.
It can also be blended with fertilizers, or granulated by itself or with other amendments, like gypsum or lime. Granulated biochar has the look and feel of traditional fertilizer and can be spread with a variety of fertilizer spreading equipment.
Outcomes vary by soil texture, climate, cropping system, and production characteristics (like feedstock or temperature). In general, sandier or low fertility soils see the best response to biochar amendments.
Growing with Biochar
To support stable adoption of biochar in agriculture, we developed Growing with Biochar (GWB) — a training program designed to provide practical guidance for agricultural professionals. GWB training sessions are full-day, no cost events held in locations across the U.S.
The training offers clear, field-ready education on sourcing, application, and implementation strategies across different farming systems. This is a perfect fit for anyone in the agriculture ecosystem who wants to learn more about biochar.