Need for fertilisers
According to researchers, deterioration and chemical degradation of soils is severe worldwide.
It is expressed as soil compaction, surface crafting (pH), slow water seepage, low water draining, low nutrients and low nutrient retaining as well as decreasing crop productivity.
We have been using the soils repeatedly for many years and now they are exhausted.
Soils become low in organic matter degrading their quality. This is why increased use of organic fortifiers such as charcoal as a supplement to organic fertilisers yields positive results.
Unfortunately, in Uganda, majority of farmers are yet to embrace to the use of fertilisers on their farms.
How charcoal dust works
Charcoal is a fine-grained, porous black carbon generated from plant materials. It is non-toxic to plants.
There are many tiny pores in charcoal. Once it is applied, the pores will allow air to diffuse into the soil.
The pores will hold water and nutrients and later release it to plants. Unlike other organic fertilisers, charcoal therefore, does not decompose. So once applied, it will stay in soil for many years.
The high stability and porosity make charcoal a better fertiliser than other organic materials because it survives in the soils for many years. There is no need for re-application throughout the plant cycle.
