Biochar for Soil Health Enhancement and Crop Productivity Improvement
Awtar Singh*
Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal – 132001, Haryana, India
A.P. Singh
Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences,
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi – 221005, U.P., India
V. Singh
Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal – 132001, Haryana, India
Arijit Barman
Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal – 132001, Haryana, India
Sagar Vibhute
Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal – 132001, Haryana, India
R.S. Tolia
Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal – 132001, Haryana, India
DOI: NIL
Keywords: Biochar, Soil, Productivity
Abstract
Most of the crop residues, agro-industrial wastes and agricultural by-products create management problems to farmers in agronomic practices in fields. If these materials are converted into biochar by pyrolysis technique, then it may be a significant opportunity for maintaining soil health as well as crop productivity. Biochar positively affects the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil, but effects vary from soil to soil. Physical and chemical characteristics of biochar depend upon types of feedstocks and pyrolysis conditions. Biochar production on a large scale is a major constraint in adoption of this technology, because of non-existence of any sustainable technology. There is need of future research for promoting the use of biochar on large scale. It is essential to make low-cost and eco-friendly production units of biochar for farmers to exploit its potential.
Downloads
not found
Reference
CRIDA. (2012). Annual Report 2011–12. Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, India, p. 178.
Emrich, W. (1985). Handbook of charcoal making: The traditional and industrial methods. D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Purakayastha, T. J. (2010). Effect of biochar on yield of different crops. In IARI Annual Report 2010–11, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi – 110012, India, p. 55.
Singh, A., Singh, A. P., Singh, S. K., & Singh, C. M. (2015). Effect of biochar along with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on growth and total dry matter yield of rice. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 9(2), 1627–1632.