Biochar Summary of Benefits

Wakefield BioChar Presents: The Power of Biochar in Landscaping

Wakefield BioChar recently shared a powerful message at the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association Annual Convention. In a 90-minute session, we explored how biochar can transform landscaping and benefit businesses, communities, and the environment. Here’s a breakdown of what we covered.

What is Biochar?

Biochar is a high-quality soil conditioner made from plant waste.

It’s created through pyrolysis, a process that heats organic material in the absence of oxygen.

Biochar improves soil health, supports strong plant growth, and locks carbon into the ground.

It’s long-lasting, safe, and has been used for thousands of years—like in the Amazon, where fertile “terra preta” soils still thrive today.

What Makes Biochar Special?

Biochar’s success depends on three things:

1. The materials used to make it (feedstock)
2. How it’s made (the manufacturing process)
3. How it’s applied in the soil

Key properties to understand:

• Total carbon content (organic & elemental)
• Nutrient-holding ability (Cation Exchange Capacity)
• Particle size, moisture, pH level, and ash content
• Neutralizing value (can help raise soil pH)

Why Use Biochar in Landscaping?

Biochar boosts soil quality, making your plants stronger and your landscaping more resilient.
Here’s how:

Plant Benefits

• Improves plant growth (yields can increase by 5%–150%)
• Increases drought resistance
• Improves soil structure and aeration
• Supports beneficial soil microbes (acts like a coral reef for them!)
• Reduces need for fertilizer by up to 60%

Environmental Benefits

• Renewable and carbon-negative
• Locks away carbon (1 lb of biochar can store nearly 3 lbs of CO₂)
• Reduces methane and nitrous oxide emissions from soil
• Helps keep nutrients in the soil (less leaching)
• Lowers aluminum toxicity and raises soil pH

Real Carbon Sequestration Impact

Using biochar helps:

• Divert organic waste from landfills (which reduces methane emissions)
• Store carbon long-term in the soil
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions like methane and nitrous oxide
  ➤ Methane is 80x more potent than CO₂
  ➤ Nitrous oxide is 300x worse than CO₂ and harms the ozone layer
  ➤ Biochar can reduce NOx emissions by 80–100%

The Business Value

Coming soon: We’ll dive into how biochar can make your landscaping business more efficient, more sustainable, and more profitable—while also making a lasting environmental impact.