Engineered (bioretention) media organic material properties and specifications
Engineered (bioretention) media organic material properties and specifications.
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| Property | Biochar | Coir | Compost | Peat | Wood chips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus leaching | No [1] | No to slight | |||
| Phosphorus retention | No to slight [2] | No | |||
| Handling concerns | Potential explosive concerns in closed space situations; volatile compounds (depending on pyrolysis temperature) [3] | Dust | |||
| Soil hydraulic properties | Significant improvement [4] | Significant improvement | |||
| Soil physical properties | Significant improvement [5] | Moderate improvement | |||
| Plant/microbial effects | Beneficial but varies with feedstock [6] | Beneficial | |||
| Availability | Multiple distributors [7] | Widely available | |||
| Specifications/standards available | Limited due to variability with feedstocks [8] | Yes | |||
| Cost | |||||
| Research needs | Feedstocks suitable for stormwater applications | Phosphorus fate in stormwater applications | |||
| Applications | [9] | [10] | |||
| Chemical properties | [11] | [12] | |||
| Sustainability | Sustainable, but has current market constraints [13] | Sustainable | |||
| Potential contaminants | Minor risk - metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) | Low risk - possible chloride depending on preparation method | |||
| Test methods | Not standardized but International Biochar Initiative widely used [14] | Not standardized but multiple methods available [15] | |||
| Effects of aging/Life expectancy | Varies with production method [16] | Decomposes slowly unless nutrients are added [17] | |||
| Notes | Characteristics vary with feedstock and pyrolysis temperature | Coir must be composted or incorporated with compost, lime, fertilizer, and/or microbes |