FAQs ARTi’s Biochar

Our biochar is available in many sizes and formulations. You can get ARTi biochar in solid granules with just biochar or micronized formulations, with and without additives for soil health improvement. Besides the standard products, we make various different products for various types of soils, plants and application needs. If you have questions or need a specific formulation, contact us!

Biochar Granules, no additives 

• Biochar Granules (½ quart bag | 5 gallons pail | 20 gallons Burlap Bag | 55 gallons Drum )

• ARTi Biochar Granules Super Sack(1 cubic yard=27 cubic feet | 2 cubic yards=54 cubic feet)

Micronized biochar formulations

• ARTi microBlack Biochar for direct dry or Micronized application (1 gallon | 2.5 gallons | 5 gallons flexible containers | 5 gallons pail | 250 gallons tote)

• ARTi microPlus Biochar (1 gallon | 2.5 gallons | 5 gallons flexible containers | 5 gallons pail | 250 gallons tote)

• ARTi microOrganic Biochar (1 gallon | 2.5 gallons | 5 gallons flexible containers | 5 gallons pail | 250 gallons tote)

Other soil products with Biochar

• Biochar + compost mix (5 gallons | 10 gallons | 1 cubic yard (27 cubic ft))

• Wormcast + Biochar (2 gallons pail)

Biochar for Animal Bedding

• ARTi Biochar Animal Bedding (20 gallons)

ARTi micronized Biochar is a formulation of microscopic biochar particles. It is a dry powder formulation for direct dry or for micronized suspension/dissolved in water. It creates the perfect chemical and physical soil conditions to maximize plant growth and root development for vegetables, lawns, gardens and compost piles.

Micronized biochar (or finely ground biochar) is a much more efficient way of using biochar as millions of tiny particles improves the soil much more than one large particle. For the same amount there are a lot more benefits. Due to the microscopic size it can infiltrate (percolates) in soils without the need to till reaching deeper and closer to the root zone. 

Dry application with specific equipment makes it easy to spread and with watering the micronized biochar effectively infiltrates in the soil. For Micronized applications the micronized particles stay in suspensions for hours to a day making it easy to localize the application and simplify logistics.

Micronized biochar makes an excellent addition to many Micronized fertilization and irrigation systems thereby reducing labor costs and constantly feeding nutrients and carbon. The most important benefit is that by using Micronized biochar you are applying carbon with the nutrients, holding them in the carbon, and binding soil particles to it. The nutrients are held in the biochar and made available for plants for longer periods thereby reducing the amount of nutrient loss and the amount of fertilizers required. 

Micronized biochar promotes an increase in water holding capacity (WHC) and also air and oxygen. Due to the amount of pores and sponge-like structure some pores will hold air bubbles and larger ones will hold water. In this way, air and water is kept balanced beneath the soil.  The nutrients are held in the biochar and made available for plants for longer periods thereby reducing the amount of nutrient loss and the amount of fertilizers required.

We generally recommend Micronized biochar for plants that are already established because you can pour it on the soil surface as a powder and it will infiltrate effectively after watering due to the small particle size.

Granular Biochar as a soil amendment is available in larger particles from typically less than ½ inches. It is generally recommended that you till the soil after applying the product or be patient and let the soil vertebrates, earthworms, insects and and natural cycles slowly incorporate into the soil profile. Granular biochar can be applied on the surface, yes, but to really see the benefits it is better to add the biochar to the root zone that is up to 6-12 inches deep (or a lot more for some plants and trees). 

We sell 3 different types of Micronized biochars:

• MicroBlack, which is only ground biochar
• MicroOrganic, which is biochar with organic nutrients and microbes 
• MicroPlus, which is biochar with fertilizers 

We also do Micronized biochar with formulation required by the client, contact us.

MicroBlack

MicroBlack Biochar enhances soil structure, chemistry and biology. ARTi microBlack is a formulation of microscopic biochar particles. It creates the perfect chemical and physical soil conditions to maximize plant growth and root development for vegetables, lawns, gardens and compost piles.

Application 

To get the most out of your ARTi Micronized Biochar MicroBlack, ARTi recommends applying it in two ways: 

• Apply in a Micronized solution (adding water). 

• Apply as is (dry with the brush spreader and then hosing down so it goes into the soil)*

Add as much as ARTi Micronized Biochar to your soil as you would like! 

It’s recommended to water after doing the application to infiltrate in the soil.

* Make sure you are using the correct spreader and are not windy so you don’t create fines in the air.

Standard application is as follows:

• Lawn: 1 gallon every 250 sq. ft. (after application, add water to infiltrate Micronized Biochar Premium Black into the soil profile).
• Flowers and plants: 1 gallon direct application for 10 large potted plants or 50 small potted plants.
• Compost: 1 gallon every 2 cu. Yards.

More details about biochar may be found at ARTi.com/Store

Benefits

• Add recalcitrant carbon, and sequester carbon dioxide in a stable form in the ground.
• By using ARTi’s Micronized biochar you are applying carbon with nutrients, holding them and making them available for plants for longer periods of time. It will reduce the amount of nutrient loss and the amount of fertilizers required. 
• Infiltrates (percolates) in soils improving 4 inches down without tilling due to the particle’s microscopic size. 
• Improves soil health, soil microbial life, and biodiversity.
• Eliminates odors from compost and organic fertilizer.
• Reduces compaction of heavy clay soils. 
• Improves tilth and reduces soil bulk density.
• Increases soil water holding capacity.
• Reduces soil acidity.
• Becomes more stable by forming aggregates with clay minerals.
• Helps plants resist diseases and pathogens.
• Makes an excellent addition to fertilization lines in Micronized application systems thereby reducing labor 

MicroOrganic

ARTi Micronized Biochar MicroOrganic is balanced with a proprietary organic blend of macro- and micro-nutrients, healthy organisms, as well as essential elements for a nourishing and balanced plant food. A formulation of microscopic biochar particles, root-enhancing fungi, organic nutrients, and microbes for a ready and easy to use application for lawns, vegetables and gardens. 

Application 

There are two ways to apply ARTi Micronized Biochar MicroOrganic :

• Apply in a Micronized solution (adding water). 

• Apply as is (dry with the brush spreader and then hosing down so it goes into the soil) (make sure that it doesn’t create fines in the air)*.

Add as much as ARTi Micronized Biochar to your soil as you would like! 

It’s recommended to water after doing the application to infiltrate in the soil.

* Make sure you are using the correct spreader and is not windy so you don’t create fines in the air

Standard application is as follows:

• Lawn: 1 gallon every 250 sq. ft. (after application, add water to infiltrate Micronized Biochar Premium Organic into the soil profile).
• Flowers and plants: 1 gallon direct application for 10 large potted plants or 50 small potted plants.
• Compost: 1 gallon every 2 cu. Yards.

More details about biochar may be found at ARTi.com

Benefits

• Add recalcitrant carbon, and sequesters carbon dioxide in a stable form in the ground.
• The most important benefit is that by using Micronized biochar you are applying carbon with the nutrients, holding them made available for plants for longer periods thereby reducing the amount of nutrient loss and the amount of fertilizers required. 
• Infiltrates (percolates) in soils improving 4 inches down without tilling due to the particle’s microscopic size. 
• Improves soil health, soil microbial life, and biodiversity.
• Eliminates odors from compost and organic fertilizer.
• Reduces compaction of heavy clay soils.
• Improves tilth and reduces soil bulk density.
• Increases soil water holding capacity.
• Reduces soil acidity (acts as a liming agent).
• Becomes more stable by forming aggregates with clay minerals.
• Helps plants resist diseases and pathogens.
• Makes an excellent addition to fertilization lines in Micronized application systems thereby reducing labor costs. 

MicroPlus

A formulation of microscopic biochar particles and added concentrated chemical fertilizer for a ready and easy to use application for lawns, vegetables, compost piles and gardens. ARTi Micronized Biochar MicroPlus is boosted with a proprietary chemical fertilizer to provide additional essential elements for a nourishing and balanced plant food.

Application 

There are two ways to apply ARTi Micronized Biochar Premium Plus:

• Apply in a Micronized solution (adding water). 

• Apply as is (dry with the brush spreader and then hosing down so it goes into the soil)*.

It’s recommended to water after doing the application to infiltrate in the soil. 

* Make sure you are using the correct spreader and is not windy so you don’t create fines in the air. 

Standard application is as follows:

• For 1 part of biochar, add 10 parts of water.
  • Lawn: 1 gallon of mixture every 250 sq. ft. (after application, add water to infiltrate Micronized Biochar Premium Plus into the soil profile).
  • Flowers and plants: 1 gallon of mixture direct application for 10 large potted plants or 50 small potted plants.
• Compost: 1/4 gallon of Micronized Biochar Premium Plus every 2 cu. Yards.

Benefits

• Add recalcitrant carbon, and sequestering carbon dioxide in a stable form in the ground.
• The most important benefit is that by using Micronized biochar you are applying carbon with nutrients, holding them and making them available for plants for longer periods thereby reducing the amount of nutrient loss and the amount of fertilizers required. 
• Infiltrates (percolates) in soils due to the particle’s microscopic size. 
• Improves soil health, soil microbial life, and biodiversity.
• Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium addition. 
• Stabilizes nutrients and makes them readily available for plants. 
• Eliminates compost, organic fertilizer, and soil odors. 
• Reduces compaction of heavy clay soils. 
• Improves tilth and reduces soil bulk density.
• Increases soil water holding capacity.
• Reduces soil acidity (acts as a liming agent).
• Becomes more stable by forming aggregates with clay minerals.
• Helps plants resist diseases and pathogens.

In general, compost is made of any “waste” organic matter (OM). Through a thermophilic process, an accelerated, partial breakdown of the OM releases a number of organic substances that work as plant stimulants. These plant stimulants initiate a partial release of nutrients and beneficial microbes which are also added to the process. Our compost is locally sourced using tree leaves, branches and trimmings. 

The weight depends on the feedstock we use. Usually with oat hulls the weights are:

• 20 gallons: 18-25 lbs
• 1 cubic yard: 300lbs
• 0.5 quart: 1 lb
• 2.5 gallons: 15 lbs
• 5 gallon pail of biochar: 10lbs
• 5 gallon pail Micronized biochar: 25-30lbs

We ship to the client address. Our products can be picked up at the ARTi facility in Prairie City, Iowa.

Some of our clients are farmers who wish to develop their own biochar or start with commercialization. ARTi also works with industrial and private clients.