Here's the latest system I've designed for the KTE. Updates will be made as new intel is discovered. So, here goes.

1- Forestry waste (Biomass) harvested,  dried and processed - ready to burn!

2-Kindling ready to light

3-Kindling lit

4-A 10cm bed of hot coals produced

5-Time to start layering the feedstock:

First layer. Add the next layer (and following layers) once the top of the feedstock starts to ash.

Halfway through the burn (after multiple layers)

6-Finishing the burn. Add some smaller feedstock then wait until the flame has completely died down before quenching. Alternatively, add a cap of large diameter feedstock on top of the final layer, wait until the flame has almost completely died down, then quench. The large diameter cap can then be fished out and put aside for finishing off the next burn.

7-Kiln quenched with a hose (could use a 20L stainless bucket with IBC too). Lots of steam produced. Result = biochar with variable degrees of steam activation for high surface area. Can use a burr hoe with a chopping action to chip off the biochar from partly pyrolysed feedstock and push all of the biochar beneath the water level to ensure a perfect quench.

8-pH adjustment. For alkaline Biochar do nothing. If neutral Biochar needed - with a calibrated pH meter, add a few small dashes of 'food grade' Phosphoric acid to the Biochar in water and stir with a star picket/stick. Recheck - should be a few tenths below 7 (or lower if acidic Biochar needed). Leave for 24 hours. Recheck and adjust if necessary

9-Some excess smoke water bucketed out (20L ss bucket with top coarse woven 1.6mm, 5mm aperture stainless mesh filter) into an IBC. Smoke water can then be used for seedling raising

10-Kiln tipped over 2 front legs for emptying the biochar

11-Biochar transferred to site of application eg.swales, Zai pits, fabric pots, raised beds etc.

12-Biochar milling
A heavy duty landscaper's rake for ergonomic vertical pounding of a thin layer of undried Biochar on a 1.6mm HW350 panel (or any flat steel panel/plate)

13-Biochar Inoculation (experimental)
In a 20L ss bucket add: Liquid sea kelp (sea minerals and micronutrients) eg.5L, microbes (various soil food web functions) eg.Popul8 (2 caps), molasses (microbe food) (in a 2L washed out milk container, 6 bottle caps and fill with warm water then shake until dissolved then pour into the bucket), NPK (macronutrients) eg. 5L of vermiculture extract; stir the liquid then half added to each inoculater, filled with 80L of milled Biochar each then mix to coat the liquid onto the biochar surface 3D nanoscale matrix. Cover and leave in a shady place to reduce and regulate the temperature and reduce evaporation to protect the microbes and leave for 1 week to provide enough time for the microbes to move into their new protected high rise housing residence inside the matrix. There are different sized pores (houses) on the matrix surface to suit different sized microbes.

How do you best connect the growing media to the plants then to the gut's microbiome for good nutrition and health?

14-Permafert midden (experimental)
Inoculated Biochar: poultry manure, straw Lucerne, compost: local soil (40:40:20) = Permafert
Turn for a week

15-Permafert applied in swales

16-Direct seeding or seedlings planted in swales

17-Swales mulched around seedlings

18-Harvest the produce!

END