Biochar Soil Enhancer

Cookswell Jikos: 50/50 Blend Biochar & Compost Soil Enhancer

The 50/50 Blend Biochar & Compost Soil Enhancer, manufactured by Chardust Ltd,  is a carbon-sequestering soil amendment that combines biochar – a highly porous, stable form of charcoal – with compost to improve soil structure, water retention and nutrient availability in landscaping, urban agriculture and green building site restoration. The biochar component is manufactured from eco-friendly charcoal chips sourced from carefully selected urban charcoal vendors, magnetically cleaned and double-sieved through a 3 mm mesh for optimal particle size. Its porous structure attracts and holds significantly more water than soil alone, retains phosphorus and nitrogen over long periods, and provides habitat for beneficial soil organisms – reducing the need for chemical fertilisers while improving plant establishment on landscaped sites. As a highly stable carbon material, biochar resists organic decomposition and locks carbon into the soil for hundreds of years, making it a recognised and practical form of carbon sequestration that turns Nairobi’s charcoal waste stream into a long-term climate benefit.

Key Technical Information and Features

• Composition: 50/50 blend of biochar (processed charcoal dust) and compost
• Biochar source: eco-friendly charcoal chips from selected Nairobi urban charcoal vendors
• Processing: magnetically cleaned and double-sieved through 3 mm mesh for consistent particle size
• Packaging: 30 kg gunny sack; bulk delivery by the tonne available on request
• Price: KSh 2,100 per 30 kg bag (pure biochar; contact supplier for blend pricing)
• Hygroscopic properties: porous structure absorbs and retains moisture at rates significantly higher than untreated soil
• Nutrient retention: increases retention of phosphorus and nitrogen; decreases nutrient leaching into groundwater
• Soil biology: hosts essential soil micro-organisms that stimulate plant growth and improve soil fertility
• Erosion control: helps retain nutrients against surface water flow
• Applications: garden beds, potted plants, landscaping, green roofs, urban agriculture, compost bins, vermiculture, livestock bedding (odour reduction)
• Activation: pure biochar can be activated (charged with nutrients) before application, or used directly as a compost blend

Efficiency Features

1. Carbon sequestration: biochar is a highly stable carbon material that resists decomposition and locks carbon into the soil for hundreds of years , a recognised, measurable form of long-duration carbon removal
2. Greenhouse gas reduction: absorbs CO₂ emissions from organic decomposition in the soil and helps control the release of methane and nitrous oxide, two potent greenhouse gases
3. Circular waste economy: manufactured from Nairobi’s urban charcoal dust waste, giving a higher-quality, longer-lasting use to a material that would otherwise be discarded closing the loop on Kenya’s charcoal supply chain
4. Reduced chemical fertiliser dependency: by retaining soil nutrients over extended periods, biochar reduces the need for synthetic fertiliser inputs, lowering both costs and chemical run-off into waterways
5. Groundwater protection: decreases nutrient leaching from soil into groundwater, supporting healthier local water systems
6. Local manufacturing and employment: produced by Chardust Ltd in Nairobi, sustaining local jobs in waste processing and soil product manufacturing
7. Complementary to green building landscaping: suitable for use in post-construction site restoration, green roof substrates and sustainable landscaping specifications where soil health and carbon performance are part of the project brief