Kosfeld Fenna Thesis - Flipbook - Page 114
Applying Biochar in El Prat
Wood- and Grass-based biochar was inoculated in urine ( fermented/rested for one month ), meaning it was soaked until
fully covered. Water: Microorganism solution was added with a
ratio of 40 ml of microorganisms to 10 ml of water. Soaking for
four days. The smell of urine was partly absorbed, but due to the
amount, it was still present.
After 4 days of soaking and regular turning for even absorption,
I brought the charged biochar to the 昀椀eld where Maria and I
worked with it.
114
We turned the compost pile, which was
started a year ago. The compost was
made up of local soil, eggshells, fruit
and vegetable peels, wood residues, etc.
As Maria explained, they are not turning
it often, so the process and fermentation
within the compost pile are very uncontrolled. When we opened and turned it, though, the decomposition of solid waste already showed fertile soil, with a good
amount of microorganisms, insects, etc.
We separated the compost pile into two sections—one half
without Biochar and the other with a bit of charged Biochar.
We did not calculate the volume or amount of char added but
did it by eye. The ratio was 1 part Biochar and 10 parts Compost. Through crushing, I reduced the grain size to approx. from
4-5cm to 1cm to ensure wider spread and more aeration within
the compost.
I discovered that the smaller biochar size (
