Biochar: A Sustainable Solution for Soil Health and Climate Change Mitigation
Lalita Kumar Mohanty
Department of Agronomy, KVK, Jajpur, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
N K Singh *
Department of Agronomy, ICAR-ATARI-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh- 229408 - India.
Shital H. Bhojani
Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India.
O S Sandhu
Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India.
Yanglem Sofia Devi
Department of Agronomy, KVK, East Garo Hills, Meghalaya, 794111, India.
Sandeep Rout
Faculty of Agriculture, Sri Sri University, Cuttack, Odisha-754006, India.
Narinder Panotra
Department of Agronomy, Institute of Biotechnology, SKUAST, Jammu, Chatha, (J&K)-180009, India.
Anchal Singh
School of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, IFTM University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, 244102, India.
Priyanka Acharya
College of Fisheries, OUAT, Odisha, India.
Harishankar
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Research Station, Jashpur (C.G.), University - Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Biochar has emerged as a promising sustainable solution for improving soil health and mitigating climate change. Produced from the pyrolysis of organic biomass, biochar is a carbon-rich material that can enhance soil properties, increase crop yields, and sequester carbon in the soil. This review article explores the potential of biochar as a soil amendment and its role in climate change mitigation. It discusses the production process, physicochemical properties, and the effects of biochar on soil fertility, water retention, and microbial activity. The article also examines the carbon sequestration potential of biochar and its implications for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, it highlights the challenges and future research directions in biochar application. The review concludes that biochar represents a sustainable approach to improving soil health and combating climate change, with significant potential for widespread adoption in agriculture and environmental management.
Keywords: Biochar, soil health, climate change mitigation, carbon sequestration, sustainable agriculture