10.Biochar- carbon, soil biota, general (structure) – For those of you looking for a cutting edge technique, biochar may be your answer. Well, not so cutting edge, biochar was likely used by native peoples of the Amazon several thousand years ago to create extremely rich-soils. The “terra preta” created by these cultures was a product of incorporating charcoal and organic matter into the soil. Doing so created good soil structures, increased surface area for microbes, and a high nutrient holding capacity. Natural lump charcoal is probably the most convenient and widely available form we can get today. It is helpful to smash it up into smaller pieces. Biochar can be used as a light mulch or incorporated into the soil, but it is important to first soak the charcoal in a nutrient rich solution such as manure or compost leachate (watered down compost) so the carbon doesn’t pull nutrients out of your soil (this is the same stuff water filters are made of after all). Now pat yourself on the back because you just helped sequester some carbon.