Testing page

Biochar in Action

One of biochar's key impacts is the increase of a healthy microbial biomass and a greater fungal-to-bacterial ratio in the soil.

Mick Jones, a farmer in Welshpool, UK has performed extensive tests to measure this effect.

He chose four fields on his farm as test cases with differing soil applications, and used microBIOMETER to measure microbial life.

Here we outline the conditions in the 4 fields, and share the evidence below.

Field 1

Intensive continual arable rotation of wheat, oil seed rape and potatoes. High fertilizer and pesticide usage, some poultry manure.

Field 2

Silage field on an ex-dairy farm converted to sucklers 4 years ago. Still with slurry and traditional artificial fertilisation.

Field 3

Not farmed for 30 years, only grazed with horses. No organic or artificial fertilizer is used.

Field 4 (biochar)

5 years organic followed by 3 years biochar organic.

1 4

1 2 3 4

microbial biomass

The evidence clearly shows a substantial increase in mocrobial biomass in the field with biochar applied. It is this microbial life that helps deliver nutrients to plants, and retain moisture in the soil.

Fungal-to-bacterial ratio

Within the increased microbial biomass, the biochar treated field shows a much higher proportion of fungal life in the soil. This fungal growth has been largely depleted around the world through intensive farming and artificial fertilizer application and is critical for healthy soil ecosystems.

Mick Jones

Mick Jones has an extensive 40+ years of experience in farming, 30 years in biomass and renewables, and a long history in engineering. His experience has been key to the success of the Woodtek C1000 biochar system, for which he has been the head of research and development. Their technology centre and engineering facility is located at his 100-acre family farm in Wales.

"And the results undoubtedly confirmed that biochar not only increases the healthy microbial biomass in the soil, but also boosts the fungal-to-bacterial ratio."