Where can I get my biochar tested and analyzed?
Today, no standard tests for biochar exist, nor are there standards to determine the desired properties of a biochar for use in a specific soil type. Some basic characteristics of biochar can be obtained by analyzing it as soil (e.g. available nutrients, pH, CEC, total carbon, total nitrogen contents). This testing can be done at any soil testing lab, and some labs offer proximate analyses (fixed carbon, volatile carbon, ash content) that were developed for analyzing fuel charcoal. Remember, however, that at this time only testing biochar under specific soil conditions will provide information as to its usefulness in the field. Some quick tests can and should be carried out before experimenting with crops; see Box 1 in IBI’s “Guide to Conducting Biochar Trials”.
