The invention relates to a microbial delivery system where biochar acts as a carrier for microbes.

A method and system is provided for treating water to remove contaminants using treated biochar placed in the water flow pathway of a water treatment process. The system further includes the further treatment of the treated biochar after its use in the water treatment process for use in agricultural or animal applications.

A treated biochar comprising a porous carbonaceous particle that has been treated and mixed with a media containing a mineral solubilizing microorganism, whereby the porous carbonaceous particle after mixing has retained the mineral solubilizing microorganism.

Biochar is provided that is treated to have certain chemical and physical properties found to have the highest impact on plant growth and/or soil health. In particular, the following physical and/or chemical properties, among others, of a biochar have been identified as critical properties to control for in the selection of biomass feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, and/or enhancing treatment to increase biochar performance: (i) bulk density (ii) impregnation capacity; (iii) particle size distribution; (iv) solid particle density; (v) surface area; (vi) porosity; (vii) total porosity; (viii) ratio of macroporosity to total porosity (ix) content of residual organic compounds; (x) content of volatile organic compounds; (xii) ash content; (xiii) water holding capacity; (xiv) water retention capabilities; (xv) levels of dioxins and other potentially hazardous byproducts of pyrolysis; and (xvi) pH. Treatment can modify and preferably increase hydrophilicity/decrease hydrophobicity, remove dioxins from the raw biochar, modify electrical conductivity and/or surface charge, modify cation exchange capacity and modify anion exchange capacity, among other things.

The present invention relates to a method for applying biochar to turf and landscape to allow the turf and landscape to be effectively maintained under reduced water and/or reduced fertilizer applications.

A treated biochar comprising a porous carbonaceous particle that has been treated and mixed with a media containing a mineral solubilizing microorganism, whereby the porous carbonaceous particle after mixing has retained the mineral solubilizing microorganism.

A method for capturing material extracted from biochar is provided comprising the steps of: (i) providing a biochar; (ii) contacting the biochar with an extraction media, where the extraction media causes the removal of residual compounds from the pores and surface of the biochar, creating a resulting extract comprised of the extraction media and removed compounds; and (iii) collecting the resulting extract. The method also can include other steps of extraction and purification. The method further comprises the step of applying the resulting extract to seeds, plants, soil, other agricultural products, or for use in other applications. A biochar having high levels of soluble signaling compounds is also provided, where the biochar is derived from a biomass source that together with predefined pyrolysis parameters produces resulting biochar having increased levels of soluble signaling compounds that are known to increase seed germination rates and early plant growth. Such soluble signaling compounds can then be collected in a biochar extract by contacting the biochar with an extraction media.

A method and system is provided for treating water to remove contaminants using treated biochar placed in the water flow pathway of a water treatment process. The system further includes the further treatment of the treated biochar after its use in the water treatment process for use in agricultural or animal applications.

A soil amendment is provided and a method for making the same, where the soil amendment is encasing biochar in a biodegradable material. The biochar encased in the biodegradable material may be either or both treated and untreated (raw) biochar. The biodegradable material encasing the biochar may be sealed to produce a packet or capsule, or deposited on a sheet of biodegradable material. The sheet of biodegradable material may include a biodegradable adhesive, creating a biochar tape on the biodegradable material. In another example the biodegradable material may be immersed in a solution containing biochar to create a soil amendment, for example, to wrap a root ball of a seedling or sapling. The biodegradable material may, for example, be a polymer, wax, oil, or paraffin which is used to create a bead, capsule, or pod of biochar or biochar slurry, or may be a fiber based or polymer based material that can be formed into a shape, such as a liner, container, or a disc.

A method is provided for producing a biochar solution. The method comprises the steps of collecting biochar particles, dispersing the biochar particles in a liquid solution and adding a stabilizing agent to keep the biochar in flowable suspension. The stabilizing agent may be added to the liquid solution or to the biochar prior to placing the biochar in solution.