Wood-based biochar could make beneficial fungal biopesticides easier to apply and store
2026.05.15
Applying beneficial microbes to soil sounds simple, but in practice it can be difficult to distribute small amounts of microbial products evenly through growing media or field soils. A study published in Biochar suggests that carefully selected biochar could help solve this problem.
Researchers tested whether biochar, a carbon-rich material made by heating biomass in limited oxygen, can serve as a solid carrier for a commercial Trichoderma-based biopesticide. Trichoderma fungi are widely used in agriculture because they can help suppress plant pathogens, compete with harmful microbes, and support healthier plant growth. However, keeping these living organisms viable and easy to apply remains a key challenge for biocontrol products.
In the study, the team evaluated 35 different biochars made from wood, manure, and other biomass sources, including coffee grounds, spent growing media, flax shives, and greenhouse waste. The biochars were produced at different pyrolysis temperatures, ranging from 300 to 750 °C. Each biochar was inoculated with ASPERELLO® T34 Biocontrol, a commercial formulation containing Trichoderma asperellum T34, and then incubated for eight weeks at 15 °C.
The results showed that not all biochars are equally suitable for carrying beneficial fungi. Biochars made from wood-based feedstocks and produced at lower pyrolysis temperatures, especially 300 to 450 °C, performed best. These materials were more likely to maintain or support the survival of Trichoderma during incubation. In contrast, manure-based biochars and biochars produced at higher temperatures were generally less effective carriers.
Applying beneficial microbes to soil sounds simple, but in practice it can be difficult to distribute small amounts of microbial products evenly through growing media or field soils. A study published in Biochar suggests that carefully selected biochar could help solve this problem.
Researchers tested whether biochar, a carbon-rich material made by heating biomass in limited oxygen, can serve as a solid carrier for a commercial Trichoderma-based biopesticide. Trichoderma fungi are widely used in agriculture because they can help suppress plant pathogens, compete with harmful microbes, and support healthier plant growth. However, keeping these living organisms viable and easy to apply remains a key challenge for biocontrol products.
In the study, the team evaluated 35 different biochars made from wood, manure, and other biomass sources, including coffee grounds, spent growing media, flax shives, and greenhouse waste. The biochars were produced at different pyrolysis temperatures, ranging from 300 to 750 °C. Each biochar was inoculated with ASPERELLO® T34 Biocontrol, a commercial formulation containing Trichoderma asperellum T34, and then incubated for eight weeks at 15 °C.
The results showed that not all biochars are equally suitable for carrying beneficial fungi. Biochars made from wood-based feedstocks and produced at lower pyrolysis temperatures, especially 300 to 450 °C, performed best. These materials were more likely to maintain or support the survival of Trichoderma during incubation. In contrast, manure-based biochars and biochars produced at higher temperatures were generally less effective carriers.
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