Biochar Selection Tool Instructions
1. Enter your soil data from a laboratory test in the Soil Data Entry Form. Each soil data element should have an entry. The Sand, Silt and Clay % should add to 100%. If your soil does not contain one or more sand, silt, or clay enter 0.
E.g. For a 100% Sand soil
Sand(%): 100
Silt(%): 0
Clay(%):0
2. Select your state and crop from the dropdown menus, if your crop is not in the dropdown menu, enter your crop requirements in the ‘Input Custom Crop Requirements’ section. Enter your zip code and click Submit.
3. A summary of the Submitted Soil Data will appear along with messages pertaining to your soil moisture and organic matter, your soil type classification, and the crop nutrient requirements your soil is deficient in*. A list of the top 5 biochar sources closest to your zip code will also be presented.
4. Based on your soil health goals and perhaps the moisture, organic matter, and crop nutrient requirements, select 3 priorities from the priority dropdown menus. Priority 1 will carry the heaviest weight, while priority 2 will weigh more heavily than priority 3. Click Submit.
5. The next page will appear with biochar in the Atlas database that meet your priorities. For each priority the top 5 biochar in our database will be displayed. For crop nutrient requirements and lime, the biochar with values closest to the value your soil is deficient in to meet crop requirements will be displayed. For ‘Increase water retention’, the biochar with the greatest surface area will be displayed. For ‘Increase soil organic matter’, the biochar with the greatest percent of organic carbon will be displayed. For ‘Sequester C’ the biochar with the lowest H:Corg ratio will be displayed. For ‘Increase drainage’ the biochar with the largest average pore diameter (um) will be displayed. For biochar nearby, the biochar closest to your zip code will be displayed.
6. The ranking of the biochar that meet each requirement is as follows; 15:11 points for the top 5 biochar meeting the first priority, 10:6 points for the top 5 biochar meeting the second priority, 5:1 points for biochar meeting the third priority. A summary of the biochar and total points will be displayed. Biochar meeting multiple priorities will earn the sum of points for their rank under those priorities.
7. Select the biochar you would like to move forward with for amendment rate calculation from the dropdown and click Submit.
8. Soil benefits from 1 dry ton of the selected biochar will be displayed along with amendment rate recommendations based on your priorities.
9. Based on the amendment rate recommendations, enter an amendment rate you would like to apply and click Calculate benefits.
10. The total soil benefits from key properties of this biochar will be calculated based on the amendment rate you’ve specified.
*Keep in mind that crop nutrient and lime requirements from our database are very general. For specific nutrient requirements based on your soil type and cropping history please contact your local experts.