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9.7 Nutrition and Quality
Biochar has the ability to improve soil fertility resulting in higher crop yields.
Biochar applied in finely ground form to the soil causes the gathering of beneficial
fungi and bacteria due to the wide surface area and complex pore structure of biochar which eventually help the plants absorb nutrients from the soil. Hence, biochar
can provide a secure habitat for favorable microbial activity that is important for
crop yields and production to flourish.
Biochar appeared to improve the uptake of methane and reduce the soil emissions of nitrous. For example, soil emissions of nitrous oxide reach about half compared to the greenhouse gas emissions from corn production (one quarter of the
emissions from corn ethanol production). Then, along with corn-ethanol production, minimizing 50% of nitrous oxide emissions would substantially improve the
carbon footprint of corn production.
Most parts of the world suffer from soil acidity (low pH). Mainly, correction of
soil acidity is by applying large amount of lime to increase the pH level. However,
in acidic soil, biochar has the capability to lower soil acidity. Biochar can directly
maintain soil nutrients through the negative charge that develops on its surfaces and
can buffer acidity in the soil (Tenenbaum 2009).
Due to biochar’s potential to boost the availability of plant nutrients, soil nutrient
retention is enhanced which effects moderation of fertilizer needs bringing down
the cost of producing the crop. In addition, char-amended soils have lower the runoff of phosphorus into surface waters and leaching of nitrogen into groundwater
(Tenenbaum 2009). Biochar increases the soil pH, which increases the production
of N 2 rather than N 2 O, improves soil aeration and more O 2 uptake, and completes
denitrification by increasing dissolved organic carbon (Liu et al. 2019).
9.8 Cultivation and Yields
By using biochar in the soil, physical and chemical properties of the soil which
increase the production and crop yield may be maintained. In addition, soil fertility
is reinstated by motivating microbial activity base on organic matter, fixing atmospheric nitrogen, and preserving soil from erosion, salinity, and acidity. Biochar
also assists in controlling pests, insects, and soil-borne infections and illnesses and
also controls weeds; for example, repeated wheat culture grows wild oats and phallaris infestation. Similarly, culturing berseem continuously motivates chicory infestation, e.g. kasani, but an alternate cropping of berseem and wheat helps in
controlling kasani as well as oats and phallaris.
Biochar also inhibits or limits periods of peak demands of irrigation water. In
crops desiring high irrigation, if it is followed by light irrigation, it will not influence
or degenerate the soil physical condition (Tenenbaum 2009). The potential biochar
have ability to remove the toxic elements from plant and helps to improve the plant
9 Effect of Biochar Addition to Soil on Plant Quality
9.7 Nutrition and Quality
Biochar has the ability to improve soil fertility resulting in higher crop yields.
Biochar applied in finely ground form to the soil causes the gathering of beneficial
fungi and bacteria due to the wide surface area and complex pore structure of biochar which eventually help the plants absorb nutrients from the soil. Hence, biochar
can provide a secure habitat for favorable microbial activity that is important for
crop yields and production to flourish.
Biochar appeared to improve the uptake of methane and reduce the soil emissions of nitrous. For example, soil emissions of nitrous oxide reach about half compared to the greenhouse gas emissions from corn production (one quarter of the
emissions from corn ethanol production). Then, along with corn-ethanol production, minimizing 50% of nitrous oxide emissions would substantially improve the
carbon footprint of corn production.
Most parts of the world suffer from soil acidity (low pH). Mainly, correction of
soil acidity is by applying large amount of lime to increase the pH level. However,
in acidic soil, biochar has the capability to lower soil acidity. Biochar can directly
maintain soil nutrients through the negative charge that develops on its surfaces and
can buffer acidity in the soil (Tenenbaum 2009).
Due to biochar’s potential to boost the availability of plant nutrients, soil nutrient
retention is enhanced which effects moderation of fertilizer needs bringing down
the cost of producing the crop. In addition, char-amended soils have lower the runoff of phosphorus into surface waters and leaching of nitrogen into groundwater
(Tenenbaum 2009). Biochar increases the soil pH, which increases the production
of N 2 rather than N 2 O, improves soil aeration and more O 2 uptake, and completes
denitrification by increasing dissolved organic carbon (Liu et al. 2019).
9.8 Cultivation and Yields
By using biochar in the soil, physical and chemical properties of the soil which
increase the production and crop yield may be maintained. In addition, soil fertility
is reinstated by motivating microbial activity base on organic matter, fixing atmospheric nitrogen, and preserving soil from erosion, salinity, and acidity. Biochar
also assists in controlling pests, insects, and soil-borne infections and illnesses and
also controls weeds; for example, repeated wheat culture grows wild oats and phallaris infestation. Similarly, culturing berseem continuously motivates chicory infestation, e.g. kasani, but an alternate cropping of berseem and wheat helps in
controlling kasani as well as oats and phallaris.
Biochar also inhibits or limits periods of peak demands of irrigation water. In
crops desiring high irrigation, if it is followed by light irrigation, it will not influence
or degenerate the soil physical condition (Tenenbaum 2009). The potential biochar
have ability to remove the toxic elements from plant and helps to improve the plant
9 Effect of Biochar Addition to Soil on Plant Quality