Biochar - soil sustainability systems
Preventing pollution by boosting depleted soils with nutrients
Biochar soils are created by using agricultural and forestry waste as an alternative to typical topsoil applications. This process ensures carbon is stored safely and reduces environmental impacts.
Our biochar soil solutions include HydraSoil and our 100% natural HydraMulch.
HydraSoil
HydraSoil is a spray-applied biotic soil media system that establishes vegetation on steep, hard-to-access roadside verges and contaminated mining slopes with poor soil quality. It is a topsoil replacement system made from recycled fibres that rapidly establishes vegetation to prevent erosion. It prevents pollution from mobilising in soils and mitigates against wider environmental pollution.
HydraSoil is formulated to solve environmental problems associated with very steep slopes or mine sites.
- It provides a layer of advanced growing medium that kick-starts vegetation establishment and soil development
- It is effective on slopes > 1H:1V
- It is effective immediately
- Fast growth is established within a mulch matrix that improves temperature and moisture
- Increased water-holding capacity means the seedbed is nurtured and growth accelerated
- It can be used under-erosion control blankets, for top filling turf reinforcement mats or in conjunction with HydraMulch for the ultimate high-performance erosion control and vegetation establishment combination available in the European market
- It contains a significant amount of sequestred carbon, so enhances project sustainability
- It contains no plastic bonding fibres, unlike leading biotic soil media and hydroseeding mulch that are produced in the USA
The high-performance spray is made from recycled biotic soil media and is:
- hydraulically applied with no need for topsoil
- applied with standard hydroseeding equipment and is simple to handle and mix
- manufactured from a proprietary blend of:
- recycled natural fibres
- mycorrhizae
- growth stimulants
- micronutrients
- biochars
- used to accelerate vegetation establishment on poor quality soils, substrates and aggregates
- alleviates low organic matter, low nutrient levels, low moisture holding capacity and limited biological activity.
The benefits for you
Affordability
- One full load of HydraSoil’s biotic soil media is equivalent to 270 truckloads of imported topsoil with an application depth of 150 mm
- It’s significantly less expensive than erosion control blankets
- Far less soil or slope preparation is required than for other erosion control solutions
Efficacy
- It provides erosion control and pollution protection for up to two years
- It is effective immediately
- Fast vegetation establishment and increased water retention capacity nurtures the seedbed to accelerate growth
- It is easy to handle, mix and apply using hydroseeding equipment
- There is no risk of tenting, unlike with erosion control blankets
Environmental sustainability
- It prevents pollution from mobilising in soils, preventing wider environmental pollution
- Importing topsoil has a high CO2 footprint and requires heavy machinery to transport and install, especially on slopes: HydraSoil decreases the need for machinery
- No risk of importing invasive non-native seed from other areas, unlike topsoil, which may contain undesirable seed species
- Large amounts of sequestered carbon, compared to importing soils results with high levels of CO2
HydraMulch
HydraMulch is a 100% natural hydraulically applied erosion control system for extreme slopes and embankments, land reclamation and rough or polluted ground.
The recycled eco-fibre blend establishes germination and promotes vegetation growth for permanent erosion control far more quickly than standard hydroseeding or rolled erosion control products. It can reduce topsoil depth and can remove the requirement for any topsoil at all if used in conjunction with HydraSoil over a suitable substrate.
It is specially formulated to solve environmental problems associated with extreme slopes and polluted land, such as:
- steep railway embankments unable to sustain vegetation cover for erosion control
- sites with access difficulties meaning topsoil cannot be imported
- road or industrial pollution entering water courses due to the lack of soil cover on roadside swales
- slopes with depleted soils, substrates or aggregates with low organic matter, low nutrient levels, low moisture holding capacity and limited biological activity
- areas requiring land reclamation
- severely eroded rough land where stones, other obstructions and existing vegetation make ground preparation impossible.
The high-performance spray-on is made from a proprietary blend of natural and recycled fibres.
- It is hydraulically applied so there is no need to import topsoil
- It is applied with standard hydroseeding equipment and is simple to handle and mix
- Tackifiers and polymers within HydraMulch chemically bond soil particles, reducing soil erosion and preventing soil loss
- The recycled blend is used to accelerate vegetation establishment on poor quality soils, substrates and aggregates
- It alleviates low organic matter, low nutrient levels, low moisture holding capacity and limited biological activity
- Significant levels of nitrogen, organic content, potassium and phosphorous are added to soil by the 100% natural fibres
The benefits for you
Affordability
- HydraMulch is less expensive than erosion control blankets, but is as effective at controlling erosion as biodegradable coir and straw blankets
- • No soil or slope preparation is required, unlike other erosion control solutions such as rolled erosion control blankets and geotextiles
- It is safe, quick and easy to cover difficult terrain with no access, saving time and money
Efficacy
- HydraMulch provides permanent erosion control, immediately protecting extreme slopes from soil and seed loss due to wind, heavy rainfall and major storm events
- Fast vegetation establishment and increased water retention capacity nurtures the seedbed to accelerate growth
- As a hydroseeding additive, it is demonstrably more effective than standard hydroseeding
- Independent large-scale slope testing has shown it to be effective in soil erosion prevention and to have faster vegetation establishment
- It is easy to handle, mix and apply using hydroseeding equipment
Environmental sustainability
- HydraMulch is 100% natural, using reclaimed, non-polluting materials from the UK
- Our systems prevent pollution from mobilising in soils so that wider environmental pollution is prevented
- Importing topsoil has a high CO2 footprint and requires heavy machinery to transport and install, especially on slopes; HydraMulch decreases the need for machinery
- Large amounts of carbon are sequestered, compared to importing soils, which results in high levels of CO2
Realistic and manageable restoration techniques
We can help you restore natural habitats without impacting your business processes.
Create a sustainable future