Black Owl Premium Biochar (B.O.B) is a high-quality soil amendment sourced from Biochar Supreme, a local Washington producer that makes biochar by pyrolyzing 100% clean, unprocessed virgin wood waste from sustainably managed forests. It is OMRI Listed.
Key things we want you to know
Mix rate: 5% to 8% of your total soil media, or 2% to 3% in field soil.
Best placement: Near the soil surface in the root zone, pre-mixed with compost and watered in to reduce wind erosion.
Shipping: Free in the continental USA. Yard tote orders must be placed by phone.
Key Product Highlights
- Improves soil structure and fertility, water retention and drainage
- Positively charged surfaces attract nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, a property called cation exchange capacity (CEC). This helps hold nutrients in the root zone so they are less likely to leach with watering.
- Our own research trials showed an 8-9% increase in growth and yields using our KiS Biochar Soil versus our Water-Only Soil
- Made from 100% virgin wood waste from sustainably managed forests
- Peat free
How Biochar Is Made
Pyrolysis means decomposition with heat, much like baking biomass in an oven without oxygen. Higher temperature pyrolysis produces biochar with a higher surface area and stores stable carbon in the soil. The process releases flammable gases that are used as heat energy for the Washington State energy grid.
Suggested Application
Place biochar near the surface of the soil in the root zone, where most nutrient cycling and uptake takes place. For new landscaping or construction areas, deeper placement is preferable. The likelihood of wind erosion is significantly reduced when biochar is pre-mixed with compost, watered down and thoroughly incorporated into the soil. It can also be mixed with liquid manures and applied as a slurry.
If you are creating your own soil mix, we recommend 5% to 8% of your total media. In field soils, application rates of 2% to 3% show benefits. Our Commercial Grower's Mix contains 5% biochar by volume and our Biochar Soil Mix contains 8% by volume.
For specific application rates from Biochar Supreme, see their application guide.
Shipping & Bulk Orders
Free shipping in the continental USA only. This does not include Alaska, American Samoa, Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Armed Forces Americas, Armed Forces Europe or Armed Forces Pacific.
Bulk orders come in 2 yard totes. Repackaging into 1 yard totes carries an additional fee. Please contact us at (425) 558-0990 for a freight quote or pickup options in Washington.
Lab Reports & Resources
- Cannabis Cultivation & Science Podcast: Episode 14, All About Biochar with Renel Anderson
- Cannabis Cultivation & Science Podcast: Episode 78, Benefits and Uses for Biochar with Tom Miles
- 7 Important Things When Building a Living Soil
- The Economics of Water Only Soils
- A Comparison of Living Soil Methodologies in Relation to Plant Health and Yield in a Controlled Environment for Cannabis
- A Cost Analysis of KiS Organics Soil Over A 3 Year Period