Research Trial Results
New University Study: Persist PAF Enhances Beneficial Bacteria in Growing Medium and Rhizosphere.
Hydroponics tomato study; Wageningen University and Research (the Netherlands)
PAF-treated biochar significantly increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria compared to other growing media—both in the medium itself and in the tomato rhizosphere. It also supported strong populations of key bacterial groups, including Nitrospirae and Firmicutes, which were nearly absent in the untreated controls.
Persist PAF liquid improves celery yield 159%.
In fusarium-infected soil, Persist PAF significantly improved plant quality, marketability, and yield—including higher weights and counts—compared to the control. A 1% PAF solution (1:100) was applied as a pre-plant soil drench and then as a foliar spray at two, four, and eight weeks after planting.
NOTE: The overall yields across all treatments would not be considered economically sustainable in a typical growing environment.
Karrikaid-PRO liquid produces 7% more soybean plants and 4% larger plants.
PEPPER: 15% yield increase and a net ROI gain of +$4,800 acre in bell pepper production trial.
Persist biochar and PAF liquid produced a 15% greater number of peppers and a 13% overall increase in harvested weight per acre.
- Third-party production trial conducted by Holden Research and Consulting (Ventura County, California). Randomized Complete Block.
- In-season tissue sampling showed treated plants had a remarkably higher nutrient uptake, including 22% greater Nitrogen.
- End-of-season soil analysis showed significantly higher retained nitrate nitrogen for the treated plots compared to the control.
- Before planting, Persist™ Biochar was placed in the slot at a rate of 480 lb/acre. Persist™ PAF liquid was applied at 1% dilution with a backpack sprayer at a total rate of 3.5 gal/acre (four applications total).
- Control: Grower standard program of 160 lb/acre of nitrogen, 48 lb/acre of P2O5, and 90 lb/acre of K2O.
14% strawberry yield increase.*
* Marketable strawberries. Extrapolated flats per acre compared to the grower’s standard.
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- Outdoor production trial conducted by Holden Research and Consulting (Ventura County, California)
- Completely randomized data collection of six replicates. (Portola variety).
- Before planting, Persist Biochar was placed in the slot at a rate of 480 lbs/acre. Persist PAF liquid was applied at 1% dilution with a backpack sprayer at a total rate of 3.5 gal/acre (four applications total).
- At planting, all treatments received controlled release fertilizer and in-season applications of nitrogen and phosphorous, along with foliar pest control.
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Broccoli Nursery Trial
61% increase in total plant weight.
- Broccoli nursery trial conducted by Holden Research and Consulting (California).
- 1% dilution of Persist PAF liquid, two foliar spray applications.
- Average root weight increased 63%.
- Average plant weight increased 61%.
- Looking at dehydrated weights, the total average broccoli plant weight increased 156% compared to the grower’s standard, without any PAF treatments.
CELERY: Persist PAF produces 72% greater new root growth and a 31% increase in plant weight.
- Celery nursery trial conducted by Holden Research and Consulting (Ventura County, California).
- Two foliar applications of PAF were applied.
- The trial interval was 30 days, with appropriate data collected throughout the trial.
4.5% improved germination rate in ornamental trial with Persist PAF.
- Commercial nursery trial with coleus and begonia (Santa Clara County, California)
- Percentage point increase in germination rate for coleus planted with Vermiculite cover
(87.15% control vs. 91.67% Persist PAF. Measured two weeks after sowing). - Persist® PAF was foliar applied at 2-4 fl oz per 1,000 sq ft, diluted 1:400 (0.25%). The first application (at planting) was half the rate, with three successive applications at the full rate.
- The nursery reported a positive ROI from higher germination rates, along with improved root growth, plant mass, and the overall quality of the liners.
Hydroponics Tomato Grower Trial
15% yield increase with 40% less water.
“Biochar is everything and more that you claimed it would be and is destined to be for tomatoes and agriculture what the reef system is to Hawaii, a living eco system.”
Marshall Ige, Ige Group, Hawaii
- The grower replaced perlite pots with 100% biochar.
- The biochar pots were approximately 3x heavier compared to perlite pots, even after the grower had cut water consumption by 40% in biochar pots compared to perlite pots.
- The plant leaves were greener, the tomatoes were rounder and redder, and did not show any cracks. This is in addition to realizing a production yield improvement of 15% within two months of planting.
Persist Biochar increased soil water-holding by 37-51% and improved the protein content of feed hay.
- The study was conducted on a hay production farm in Fruita, Colorado
- Biochar was injected in a uniform, grid pattern, to a vertical soil profile depth of
about 6-8 inches. - The biochar-amended plots had 37 and 51% better moisture retention than those without biochar, along with the following additional benefits:
-> 31-32% increase in crude protein percentage (dry); 29% as received.
-> 6-10% higher Relative Feed Quality (RFQ).
-> 19-25% higher Relative Feed Value (RFV).
Persist Biochar-based grow media improves cannabis flower yields by 60% compared to coco coir.
- Cannabis Indoor Grow Media Trial (Oct-Dec 2019) – Conducted in partnership with MedMen.
- Persist’s 10% Biochar/Coco grow media was evaluated against 100% Coco Coir and Rockwool grow media (control). The trial included over 1,000 plants.
- For the Tangie Dream strain, Persist’s Biochar/Coco media produced 200% more flowers (g/sq ft) than Rockwool and 17% compared to 100% coco grow media.
- For the Blue Dream strain, Persist produced 117% greater yield than Rockwool and 60% compared to Coco Coir alone.
Persist Biochar holds water in soil
up to six times longer.
- In this internal trial, geraniums were planted in two self-watering pots, then top-watered and filled.
- After 15 days, the water level indicator in the non-biochar planter dropped significantly but remained virtually unchanged in the biochar-amended (20%) planter, even after 30 full days of no water.
- After 49 days of no additional watering, the flowers in the biochar-amended pot were still in bloom, and the leaves were green and healthy. However, the flowers in the non-biochar pot had died.
Persist Third Party Validation
OMRI Listed® for use in certified organic operations under the USDA National Organic Program.
Certified by the USDA as an all-natural, 100% biobased product.
Approved by CDFA for Organic Crop and Food Production (OIM)
Certified carbon negative by Puro.Earth, the world’s leading carbon crediting program.
Pyroligneous Acid White Paper
Discover the powerful benefits PA provides for the plant-soil system — and the planet.
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