Use of biochar in sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Biochar is an emerging soil amendment in agriculture with many facets contributing towards agricultural sustainability. The increased population burden had shrunken the global cultivable area, putting tremendous pressure in agricultural productivity. This has led to an increased use of chemicals in the form of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides or inorganic fertilizers polluting the whole environment. Increased use of inorganic nitrogenous fertilizer sources lead to leaching of nitrogen that contaminate the water bodies and deteriorate soil heath. It also increases emission of greenhouse gas (GHG) nitrous oxide from the agricultural fields contributing towards global warming. Use of biochar in agriculture has shown encouraging results in mitigating soil pollution and decreasing soil acidity. Reduced greenhouse gas emission and improved soil fertility is obtained under biochar application due to its physico-chemical properties such as higher porosity, alkalinity and nutrient contents. Thus, the role of biochar in soil fertility, pollution remediation, greenhouse gas emissions, abiotic stress and disease management makes it an important tool of sustainable agriculture.