Estimate how much biochar you'll produce from wood or biomass, how much CO₂ you're sequestering, and how much garden area you can amend.
Feedstock Input
Your Biochar Estimate
Biochar Yield
—
pounds of biochar
Volume Produced
—
gallons
CO₂ Sequestered
—
lbs CO₂ equivalent
Garden Area
—
square feet you can amend
Yield %
—
of input weight
Input Weight
—
lbs of feedstock
Note:
How Biochar Yield Is Calculated
Biochar yield varies by feedstock moisture, density, and burn method. These estimates use published ranges from biochar research and extension service data:
Dry hardwood: ~22–28% yield by weight (high carbon density)
Green hardwood: ~15–20% yield (moisture reduces effective yield)
Retort kilns produce the highest yields because gases are recirculated
Pit burns are lowest efficiency but require no equipment
CO₂ sequestration: Biochar is roughly 70–80% carbon by weight. Each lb of carbon locks up ~3.67 lbs of CO₂.
Application rate: Most research supports 10–20 lbs per 100 sq ft per year. Higher rates don't necessarily increase benefit.
Always charge (pre-soak) your biochar in compost tea, urine, or liquid fertilizer before applying — raw biochar will initially rob nitrogen from your soil.