Agrotechnology

Biochar and its potential benefits

2^nd International Conference on Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Hyderabad, India February 03-05, 2014

Kiran Reddy

Posters: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

Biochar is produced under high temperatures using crop residues, animal manure, or any type of organic waste material. The combined production and use of biochar is considered a carbon-negative process, meaning that carbon is removed from the atmosphere and will not be released into the atmosphere at a later time. Biochar carbon is recalcitrant due to its high degree of aromaticity. It has multiple potential agricultural and environmental benefits, foremost the potential to sequester carbon in the soil for hundreds to thousands of years at an estimate. Its large surface area gives it a high adsorptive capacity per unit mass. Biochar addition to soil can improve cation exchange capacity allowing for more efficient nutrient delivery to plants and improve water retention. Studies suggest that crop yields can increase as a result of applying biochar to the soil. Some contend that biochar has value as an immediate climate change mitigation strategy. Scientific experiments suggest that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced significantly with biochar application to crop fields.