Engineered (bioretention) media organic material properties and specifications
Engineered (bioretention) media organic material properties and specifications.
Link to this table
| Property | Biochar | Coir | Compost | Peat | Wood chips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus leaching | No [1] | No to slight [2] | |||
| Phosphorus retention | No to slight [3] | No [4] | |||
| Handling concerns | Potential explosive concerns in closed space situations; volatile compounds (depending on pyrolysis temperature) [5] | Dust [6] | |||
| Soil hydraulic properties | Significant improvement [7] | Significant improvement [8] | |||
| Soil physical properties | Significant improvement [9] | Moderate improvement [10] | |||
| Plant/microbial effects | Beneficial but varies with feedstock [11] | Beneficial [12] | |||
| Availability | Multiple distributors [13] | Widely available [14] | |||
| Specifications/standards available | Limited due to variability with feedstocks [15] | Yes [16] | |||
| Cost | |||||
| Research needs | Feedstocks suitable for stormwater applications | Phosphorus fate in stormwater applications | |||
| Applications | [17] | [18] | |||
| Chemical properties | [19] | [20] | |||
| Sustainability | Sustainable, but has current market constraints [21] | Sustainable [22] | |||
| Potential contaminants | Minor risk - metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [23] | Low risk - possible chloride depending on preparation method [24] | |||
| Test methods | Not standardized but International Biochar Initiative widely used [25] | Not standardized but multiple methods available [26] | |||
| Effects of aging/Life expectancy | Varies with production method [27] | Decomposes slowly unless nutrients are added [28] | |||
| Notes | Characteristics vary with feedstock and pyrolysis temperature | Coir must be composted or incorporated with compost, lime, fertilizer, and/or microbes |