How Biochar Prevents Chlorosis If the leaves on your plants are turning yellow, potential culprits include pests, lack of nutrients, or disease. Chlorosis is the formal term for any sort of leaf yellowing. The good news is that biochar can prevent plants from turning yellow no matter what the cause. How Biochar Prevents Yellow Leaves If your plant’s leaves are turning yellow, make sure they have sufficient water and the proper amount of sunlight. If the water and sunlight are adequate, another cause is likely. Nutrient deficiency is a likely suspect. So is poor drainage or a compacted root system. Biochar prevents chlorosis caused by poor drainage by boosting aeration and lowering density, improving soil structure by reducing the compaction leading to drainage issues. Compacted soil has limited air and water movement. Biochar improves the ability of soil, especially sandy soil, to hold water. If yellow leaves result from a lack of moisture in the soil, biochar can enhance water retention, so it is available to root systems. If nutrient deficiency causes yellowing, biochar is especially effective in allowing soil to retain nutrients. Benefits of Biochar Would you like a flourishing garden with less work? Biochar can provide it. This all-natural soil amendment does so by improving the soil in a variety of ways. The many benefits of biochar include: Nutrient Retention Biochar’s porosity allows it to store vital nutrients. After amendment with biochar, these nutrients are less likely to leach out and are available when your plants need them. Microbial Activity Because it is extremely porous, biochar helps to protect and increase beneficial microbes. Some micronutrients inhabiting biochar pores become energy sources for plants. This microbial activity also prevents certain diseases and decreases nematodes and other plant pathogens and pests. Water Retention Biochar helps soil retain water, allowing plant roots to access moisture even during dry conditions. By using biochar in your soil, you can water plants less frequently while attaining higher crop yields or a lusher garden. What to Know Before Applying Biochar Before applying biochar to your lawn, garden, or crops, it is crucial to know your soil type. You can send a soil sample to your county agricultural extension agent for testing or use a DIY soil testing kit. Some types of soil require more biochar than others. For the best results, mix biochar into the soil so that it makes up approximately 10 percent of the soil mix in the root zone. Water sufficiently to keep the soil moist five to seven days prior to planting. For houseplants, mix biochar into the potting soil or simply sprinkle it on the soil and add water. Keep in mind that biochar stays in the soil for centuries. There is no significant benefit to adding more biochar than recommended. However, biochar may migrate deeper into the soil over time. It is appropriate to monitor your soil conditions and add biochar as needed. Learn More from Wakefield BioChar Visit Wakefield BioChar to learn more about biochar and how it helps your plants flourish with less work. It is important to buy the right biochar for your particular lawn and garden needs. Our premium Wakefield Biochar helps the soil retain more nutrients. Our Wakefield Compost + Biochar with mycorrhizal fungi increases microbial activity and strengthens roots. Wakefield Premium Compost enriches soil while reducing disease. By using biochar, you are also doing your part in helping to combat climate change. Biochar sequesters carbon in the soil in a state that doesn’t allow it to decompose and convert to CO2 for 100’s of years. That is the primary greenhouse gas responsible for global warming and subsequent climate change. For every pound of biochar used, two pounds of carbon dioxide are sequestered.