Biochar: An Emerging Soil Amendment for Sustaining Soil Health and Black Gold for Indian Agriculture

Abstract

At the international level, improving soil with coal is seen as a means to increase soil productivity, fertility and also to mitigate climate change. Biochar, which is used to increase land fertility and store carbon, is currently gaining scientific attention and popularity in the agriculture sector. It is a solid material made by pyrolysis process of any biomass, including weeds, agricultural leftovers and other plant wastes, to carbonise it and use it as a soil amendment and carbon sequestration medium. Biochar is a viable option for enhancing soil chemical properties such as cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soil pH, as well as lowering exchangeable acidity. Biochar was also discovered to boost soil biota by boosting nutrient availability, improving habitat appropriateness, increasing water retention and aeration as well as lowering harmful compounds in the soil. Also, it can help to mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon in the soil and reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) gas emissions to the environment by enhancing soil absorption.