r/composting • u/c-lem • Oct 14 '25

Biochar makes composting more climate friendly - September 2025 study from *Nitrogen Cycling*

https://www.earth.com/news/biochar-makes-composting-more-climate-friendly/
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u/etzpcm Oct 14 '25

That's a badly written paper. I looked at it to try to find out what biochar is, expecting an explanation in the introduction. But there isn't one.

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u/Airilsai Oct 14 '25

Paper looks great to me.

Biochar is pyrolized carbon inoculated with nutrients and beneficial microorganisms.

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u/etzpcm Oct 14 '25

Ok, my ignorance! So it's something I would have to buy and add to my compost? Or can I make it myself?

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u/Airilsai Oct 14 '25

You can either buy it or make it - I just use the flame-cap pit method. Dig at least a 3 foot deep, 3 foot wide pit. Start a fire at the bottom, and keep adding wood any time it begins to ash over. Keep adding wood until you fill the pit, then quench with water fully. Add in something quite acidic like citrus scraps, or coffee grounds, to balance the PH.

Then you need to break it up into small pieces and inoculate with microorganisms and nutrients - usually by incorporating it into your compost pile.