I was at a ranch this summer that had cracks in the clay that were over an inch wide, maybe two. I shined a flashlight in one, and it went down at least a foot. I kept feeling the urge to fill the cracks with pumice and organic to see what happens the following summer.
Biochar seems like an excellent solution, since it can be made anywhere, holds shape, and breaks down for fine distribution. Maybe while it's wet, I can make some before next summer.
Yeah - charcoal is incredible stuff. Nothing organic leaves my property. I burn green & brown waste in a simple kiln made from corrugated iron & then quench it at the end with water.
It's free charcoal & turns the soil a lovely black colour. I can't make enough of the stuff.
My soil doesn't crack that badly but it's rarely bare & full of rocks.
I used to try & rot the branches & cleared trees but they dry out & take forever to break down (a lot of Australian gum trees). The charcoal chunks get smaller & finer over time but don't really break down. I use the bigger chunks to grill with.
If you're going to purposefully grow material to make bio char, I think bamboo is best. It grows fast & the charcoal it produces is very porous & easily crushed.
Sounds good! I've been participating in "Bamboo Rescue" for three years now!
I don't know what bamboo rescue is.
I have a friend who makes bio char as a side gig. The dude is burning constantly & his bamboo clumps are also just constantly producing.
Some of his bamboo is epic & he sells it to festivals to make temporary structures from.
It's also fun to burn bamboo because the segments explode loudly from the water expanding.
