Re: New paper on water saving benefits of biochsr #water #irrigation
Rick Wilson
Group, I view one of the great values of biochar is that it facilitates the leaching of sodium salts from sodic soils (which contain clay).
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Sodic soils are those where the clay structure has been degraded from sodium salt. Sodium (+1) kicks out Magnesium (+2) and Calcium (+2), which causes the air filled porosity of the soil to degrade, making it hard for the microbes to respire. Please see the attached Ph.D. thesis from UC Riverside explaining these results. Biochar accelerates sodium leaching. Biochar works best in this role when it is accompanied by compost. What is interesting is that it is microbiome from the compost that is given credit for much of the benefit. Sterilize the soil and the benefits diminish. I've leached sodic clay soils with this combination of biochar and compost. Many times. Rick Wilson
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