GoBIOCHAR SOIL ADDENDUM
Recommendations for Existing Turf:
Aerate turf as part of normal protocol.
Double aeration of turf is optimal, but regular aeration process is adequate.
– Now is the time to over-seed if desired.
Sports Turf: Apply GoBiochar 50/50 mix at 1 cubic foot per 500 square foot turf. (Apply raw GoBiochar at 1 cubic foot per 800 square foot.)
This can be done at the same time as over-seeding or top-dressing.
Residential: Apply GoBiochar 50/50 mix as low as 1 cubic foot per 800 square foot turf. (Apply raw GoBiochar at 1 cubic foot per 1100 square foot)
This can be done at the same time as over-seeding or top-dressing.
– For best results, rake or drag the surface to evenly incorporate into soil structure.
Thoroughly irrigate and then follow normal procedure for post aeration turf care.
For optimal soil results, repeat for 4 successive aeration events.
To further improve results consider other natural addendums such as Humate (1.5 lb per 1 cubic foot), Azomite (1.5 lb per 1 cubic foot), and a 3-3-3 organic fertilizer with mycorrhizal fungi. Compost tea application practices highly encouraged to promote biological communities.
Additional inputs should be weighed against soil biology and mineral test results (Haney test).
What it does:
Increased establishment success.
• Higher survival rates, less replacement
•Robust – nutrient and water efficiency
•More resilient – buffered to irregularities
How it works:
•Multiple modes of action
•• Nutrient and water holding
•• Microbial habitat/amplification
•• Permanent soil aggregate structure
Efficacy:
•Impact on soil water, nutrients, and biology
•Studied and quantified (IBI, USBI, Researchgate, etc.)
•Significant R&D experimentation & data
Safe, scalable, shovel-ready:
•Best time to deploy is now
•Incorporate into new beds, new sod,or backfill of tree transplants
•Add to existing turf installations following aeration
Recommendations for New Turf:
Prepare area according to turf provider guidance.
•Incorporate 10% to 20% by volume into the root zone at a depth of 4″-6″ when possible. (1/2″ to 1″ biochar.) If you can only top coat then use a rake to scratch 1/4″ to 1/2″ into the soil surface.
••Similar to Existing Turf practices, follow biology and mineral testing to identify additional soil conditioners such as Humate, Azomite rock dust, mycorrhizal fungi, organic fertilizers, and compost teas.
NOTES:
* Everything is conditional, common sense is a great driver of practical application guidance. You know your growth situation and turf better than anyone else.
* If area is not heavy with foot traffic or animals, your top-coat application can be heavier than recommended above. Lighter initial applications suggested because we do not know the use pattern of the turf area. Some customers never step foot on the turf except to mow it. Others have children and/or pets and are on it lot with the opportunity for foot traffic to draw biochar/compost residue into buildings.
* Higher application rate can result in more product sitting on surface which may impact appearance of lawn as well as result in product tracking into buildings or sticking to shoes.
* When applying raw biochar only, you are building soil health, not applying nutrition (depending on biochar feedstock) – results are not immediate. However, benefits will last for many generations.
* There is no improvement on addition of biochar beyond 20% by volume. The only reason for doing so is for carbon sequestration purposes.
* Residential aeration is different than sports field turf aeration. A residential aerator will only apply 12 holes per square foot 24 if you double aeration. A verticut for sports fields will provide 40 holes per square foot, 80 if doubled. Obviously more char will make it into the rootzone of a verticut aerator. Please request your aeration professional to clean any residue from previous landscapes before servicing your turf.
A 1 cubic yard sack of the GoBiochar 50/50 blend is sufficient for application up to 12500 square foot. Any unused product is 100% suitable for use in garden beds, greenhouses, shrubs, and trees.
The biggest takeaway for turf managers will be that biochar as soil addendum will provide a permanent solution to reduce irrigation requirements, optimize nutrient distribution, and reduce the need for fungicide‘s long-term because of a healthy microbial habitat.
We encourage turf managers to watch and follow the work by Dan Dinelli at North Shore Country Club: