JJelens Ltd | Technology

Why do Soils need healing?

As a farmer, you may notice that your yields have been declining over a period of time. You may even try add more fertilizer but even then, the crop production does not increase by much. You may also take a soil test to find out what is the status of your soil. This is like going to a doctor when you are not well and he/she takes some laboratory tests to find out more facts about your health status. It is the same with the soils.: A soil test from a reputable laboratory may indeed confirm the reason as to why your crop productivity has been declining. It may show a few things such as:
1. low levels of macro nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, usually referred to as NPK as well as low levels of micro nutrients such as zinc, aluminum, manganese and boron. 2. low content of organic matter. 3. acidic or alkaline soils: On the farm, you may notice your land has dry or cracked soil which may be due to less watering either from rain or irrigation or you may find it difficult to even dig holes in your land because the soil is extremely compacted.; If you notice such characteristics, your soil may be considered unhealthy. But never to worry because today, we have the right solution for you.
Our goal is to improve soil health, so that your soil can carry and produce a healthy crop.

How to Mix Biochar4Life with manure

Recommended Usage

Up to 6 tonnes of Biochar4Life Soil Conditioner per acre would be enough to condition your soil to an optimal healthy level. However, this should be added to the soil in portions over time to give the soil conditioner time to assimilate in the soil. Application guidelines when using Biochar4Life Soil Conditioner:

1. It should be used every time before planting

2. When used on its own, it is best broadcasted and mixed with soil, at a rate of 25g-50g per m2, then plant as usual. i.e apply your usual fertilizers when planting and plant within 5 days.

For faster results, we recommend you mix Biochar4Life Soil Conditioner with compost, manure or use it with your usual fertilizers.

i.) Mix with compost/manure at a rate of 1part Biochar4Life with 1-3 parts (depending on soil fertility) of compost/manure. Keep the mix for 3-4 days and then plant as usual.

ii.) After 3-4 applications of the Biochar4Life mixed with compost/manure, the quantity of the compost or manure can be reduced to a ratio of 1 part Biochar4Life with 1 part of compost/manure.

iii.) Mix with usual fertilizer at a rate of 1part Biochar4Life with 1 part of usual fertilizer.

iv.) After 3-4 applications of the Biochar4Life mixed with usual fertilizers, the quantity of the usual fertilizers can be reduced to a ratio of 1 part Biochar4Life with 0.5 parts of usual fertilizer.

v.) Once mixed, use immediately by planting as usual with all the mix.

Application Rates

i.) Pots, Trees & Shrubs: Add 1part Biochar4Life mixture with compost/manure/usual fertilizer to 3-5 parts of soil, plant as usual

ii.) Lawns, Gardens & Farm: Apply 100- 150kg per acre of Biochar4Life mixture, mix with soil, plant as usual

iii.) After every application, water abundantly.

iv.) Biochar4Life Soil Conditioner can be used for all types of crops in different measures based on soil types, crop, fertilizer application rates and climate.

v.) We also recommend that the farmer undertakes a soil test to ascertain the status of their soil in order to apply the correct nutrients to enhance their soil fertility

How does Biochar4Life soil conditioner heal your soils?

01.

Biochar4Life reduces soil acidity

Acidic soils are those that would have a pH of 0-6.5. Most plants grow well in soils that have ph ranging around 7. Biochar4Life has a pH ranging from 6.5 -8.5 depending on the source of initial agricultural waste.

Acidic soils are not good for plant growth because nutrients are less available to plants. Major nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, calcium and magnesium are generally low in acidic soils. On the other hand, micro nutrients such as manganese, copper,boron and zinc tend to be more available. Soil minerals such as iron and aluminum also tend to increase as the major nutrients continue to decrease. A high concentration of Aluminum in the soil inhibits root elongation, by interfering with cell division at the root apex and lateral roots.

This results in poor rooting system such that the plant is not able to reach the nutrition in the soil effectively. The effects of aluminium toxicity on crops are usually most noticeable in seasons with a dry season towards the end as plants have restricted access to stored subsoil water for grain filling.

Biochar4Life Soil Conditioner when applied to acidic soil will raise the soil pH. The carbonates and oxides of base cations in Biochar4Life will neutralize the soil acidity and thus increase the soil Ph towards neutral levels that will sustain good plant growth. Plant growth and most soil processes are favored by a soil pH ranging from 5.5 to 8. The optimal pH will be driven by the specific crop you are growing.

02.

Biochar4Life enhances Nutrient Availability

When root growth is restricted, plants are unable to reach sufficient soil volume where they may find nutrients. What normally happens is that the farmer ends up adding more fertilizers to enrich the soil which may not be necessary instead, this adds more cost to the farmer. In addition, restricted root growth makes is difficult for the plant to reach water levels that lay deeper in the soil. The uptake, transport and use of nutrients such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium are inhibited and the farmer ends up with a poor growth, water stressed and nutrient deficient crop.

Biochar4Life Soil conditioner once applied in acidic soils will neutralize the soil acidity and maintain low aluminium concentration. This will allow roots to develop optimally so that they can reach nutrients and water that are available in the soil.

03.

Biochar4Life improves microbial activity in the soil

Acidic conditions affect microbial processes in the soils. Growth and reproduction of the soil microbes, primarily bacteria and fungi, are reduced. Bacteria and fungi are essential in facilitating nutrient exchange with plants. These micro-organisms break down organic matter and use the carbon and nutrients for their own growth as well as break down the organic matter to a form that plants can absorb. A healthy soil is one that has a rich community of microorganisms.

Application of Biochar4life Soil Conditioner will bring the soil to neutral range that allows for a thriving environment for microbial activity, thereby enhancing soil fertility.

04.

Biochar4Life improves water and nutrient retention in the soil

Under a microscope Biochar4Life is incredibly porous. The pores allow it to soak up and hold water in the soil and also hold on to or adsorb nutrients. This provides a slow release of nutrition and water to your crop at all times. Biochar4Life Soil Conditioner will usually have similar nutritional elements as the original feedstock. For faster results, we recommend that the farmer adds compost, manure or other fertilizers preferably organic fertilizers, to increase the macro-nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that are usually needed by the plants at higher rates for faster growth. The water and nutrient retention means less leaching of nutrients hence increasing the amount of nutrients in the soil.

05.

Biochar4Llife will add organic matter to your soil

Organic matter is material that contains living organisms, crop residuals, decomposing organic material and stable organic material that has been converted by microorganisms to a resistant state of decomposition usually referred to as humus.

Organic matter improves soil health by improving physical, chemical and biological functions in the soil. Organic matter improves the soil structure that increases water filtration through the soil, improves soil ability to absorb and hold water and reduces the potential for surface crusting of the soil. Organic matter causes soil particles to bind and form stable soil aggregates and soils with high organic matter will have less soil & nutrient erosion.

Biochar4Life Soil Conditioner is made from agricultural waste and therefore contains all the above- mentioned elements. It is therefore a good source of organic matter mostly because it is made up of stable organic material(humus).

06.

Biochar4Life helps reduce adverse climate change effects

Biochar4Life Soil Conditioner is made out of agricultural waste which would have been left to decompose or usually burnt in open fields. Decomposing produces greenhouse gas emission in form of methane that contributes to warming and is more harmful than even carbon dioxide in the air. Methane contributes significantly to global warming. Burning organic material produces carbon dioxide which is another contributor to air pollution and global warming. Converting this organic material to make Biochar4Life will eliminate the need to burn or leave material to decompose on its own while locking the carbon into a stable carbon material.

Organic matter mostly contains carbon which in turn helps to improve soil health by improving physical, chemical and biological functions in the soil as indicated above.

Carbon sequestration is becoming more evident in reducing adverse climate change effects and hence the use of Biochar4Life Soil Conditioner will mean that you are helping reduce environmental pollution in agriculture while applying smart agricultural practices on your farm.