OXFORD – Plantd has launched a biochar product line made from a byproduct of the perennial grass used in its structural panels, expanding the Oxford manufacturer into agricultural products.
The company announced Aug. 28 that the product is available to growers and other agricultural customers. Plantd markets the material as a soil amendment for vegetable and berry production, turf, organic and regenerative farms, and clay soil remediation.
Plantd said its grass-based biochar has higher silica content than wood-based biochar. The company also says it can improve soil structure and water retention. Those performance claims have not yet been independently established in the sources reviewed for this story.
A North Carolina A&T State University team is conducting field trials comparing the product with compost, basalt and other soil amendments, according to Plantd. The work is measuring soil biological activity, nutrient availability, water retention and crop performance. Plantd said a greenhouse study is planned. NC A&T’s directory identifies Biswanath Dari, a participant cited by Plantd, as an assistant professor and Extension natural resources specialist.
Plantd said it is producing the biochar near its biomass supply and agricultural customers and working with biomass processor Qualterra to scale output. The release did not disclose production volume, pricing, capital investment, revenue expectations or additional jobs tied to the product line.
Plantd lists Oxford as its headquarters and says it has a 150,000-square-foot production facility. The company makes structural panels from perennial grass and has said furniture manufacturers also use the material.