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Biochar: important role in agriculture productivity and sustaining soil heath

 

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Content…….. Introduction Conversion efficiency Method of biochar preparation Chemical property of different type of biochar Effects of biochar on soil health Method of biochar application Rate of biochar application Crop productivity through biochar Critical factor for biochar Benefits of biochar

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Introduction

Biochar is pyrolized biomass

Called black gold of agriculture Enhances plant growth which absorbs more CO2 from the atmosphere.

Biochar is a fine-grained, carbon-rich, porous product remaining after plant biomass has been subjected to thermo-chemical conversion process (pyrolysis) at temperatures ~350–600°C in an environment with little or no oxygen (Amonette and Joseph, 2009).

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Used as a soil amendment

Incorporating biochar into soil reduces nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and increases methane (CH4) uptake from soil.

Agricultural crop residues form a major source of biomass in India and annually about 69.7 million tonnes

Crop residues is highest in Uttar Pradesh (60 Mt) followed by Punjab (51 Mt).

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Conversion efficiency Average recovery about 54% Type of waste Conversion efficiency (%) Rice husk 69-78 Red gram 36- 39 Maize 32-35 Cotton 38-46

Kannan et al. 2012

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Methods of biochar preparation Thermal decomposition usually achieved from pyrolysis or gasification Mainly three method of biochar preparationA. Heap method

It is a traditional method

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B. Drum Method

Venkatesh et al. (2010) develop this method at CRIDA, Hyderabad.

200L Drum A view of bottom side of the charring kiln Upper view

At bottom side about 36 holes are made about 4 cm2 cover about 20% of total surface area

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C. Biochar stove method Two basic types of stoves

A. Top-Lit Updraft Gasifier (TLUD)

B. The Anila stove.

TLUD Gasifier Anila stove

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Dr. Thomas B. Reed and Paal Wendelbo independently developed the

working idea of a TLUD gasifier in the 1990s.

TLUD is a micro-kiln used to produce charcoal, especially biochar, and

heat for cooking.

Modern Anila stove was developed by U.N. Ravi Kumar

The key aims of the design are to reduce the indoor air pollution

The stove is made from steel and weighs about 10 kg.

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Chemical properties of different types biocharBiochar PH EC

(dS m-1)

OC

(g/kg)

Total N

(%)

Total P

(%)

Total K

(%)

Total Na

(%)

Prosopis 8.4-9.7 0.63-0.95 25-32 0.70-1.23 0.05-0.26 0.2-0.5 0.34-0.51

Rice husk 7.9-8.1 0.22-.52 34-57 0.63-1.78 0.07-23 0.1-0.2 1.3-2.4

Maize 9.9-10.0 0.95-2.29 21-76 0.43-2.06 0.08-0.84 0.3-0.8 0.09-1.2

Cotton 9.81-10.6 0.28-0.75 24-76 0.31-0.67 0.15-0.39 1.1-1.4 0.63-0.75

Red gram 9.4-10.8 0.83-1.4 17-67 0.53-1.65 0.18-0.46 0.8-2.5 0.71-0.81

Fodder

sorghum

10.0-11.8 1.3-2.2 8-11 0.32-1.02 0.16-0.24 1.1-3.9 0.71-0.78

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Effects of biochar on soil health Influence of biochar on soil physical propertiessoil physical parameters such as wettability of soil, water infiltration, water retention, macro-aggregation and soil stability are critical importance in tropical environments in combating erosion, mitigating drought and nutrient loss and in general to enhance groundwater quality.

Influence of biochar on soil chemical properties

Observed Significant changes in soil quality, including PH increase, organic carbon and exchangeable cations were observed at higher rates of biochar application.

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Influence on nutrient use efficiencyLonger-term benefits of biochar application on nutrient availability mainly due to a greater stabilization of organic matter, concurrent slower nutrient release from added organic matter and better retention of all cations due to a greater cation exchange capacity. Influence of biochar on soil microbial activityBiochar provides a suitable habitat for a large and diverse group of soil microorganisms. Symbiosis between effective microbes and plant root through the medium of charcoal, that promotes the growth of plants

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Effect of biochar on soil Factor Impact Source

Cation exchange capacity 50% increase (Glaser et al., 2002)

Fertilizer use efficiency 10-30 % increase (Gaunt and Cowie, 2009)

Liming agent 1 point pH increase (Lehman and Rondon, 2006)

Soil moisture retention Up to 18 % increase (Tryon, 1948)

Crop productivity 20-120% increase (Lehman and Rondon, 2006)

Methane emission 100% decrease (Rondon et al, 2005)

Nitrous oxide emissions 50 % decrease (Yanai et al., 2007)

Bulk density Soil dependent (Laird, 2008)

Mycorrhizal fungi 40 % increase (Warnock et al., 2007)

Biological nitrogen fixation 50-72% increase (Lehman and Rondon, 2006)

NICRA Bulletin 1/2013

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Experimental view of biochar application Biochar prepared from different feedstocks (pigeonpea, castor and cotton)

was evaluated for its effect on pigeonpea yield at CRIDA, Hyderabad

Pigeon pea stalk at 6 t/ha + RDF Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF)

Unamended control

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Methods of biochar application

Biochar can be applied to soil by different methods including broadcasting, spot placement, deep banding etc.

But method of biochar application in soil depends on the farming system, available machinery and labor.

Biochar by hand application is well known, but is not viable on large-scale because of

labor intensity and human health

concerns

Mixing of biochar with composts and

manures

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Rate of biochar application Experiments have found that rates between 5-50 t/ha (0.5-5 kg/m2)

have often been used successfully.

In the case of piggery and poultry manure biochar, the biochar works

both as an organic fertilizer and soil conditioner with agronomic benefits

observed at low application rates (10 t/ha)

Application of biochar to soils in a legume-based (e.g. peanut and

maize) rotational cropping system, clovers and lucernes is more

beneficial

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Critical factors for biochar

1. Quality of feedstock biomass Different types of biomass can be used for producing biochar But, all types of feedstock biomasses are not equally good for various

types of soils. Nutrient types and amounts vary with the biomass used. 2. Optimum temperature for biochar production Higher the temperatures of the pyrolysis, the greater are the CEC and

surface area of biochar. But, 1) low carbon levels; and 2) additional handling costs of small-sized biochar

The optimum temperature for biochar production is around 500°C

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3. Soil types and Soil moisture In dry countries such as Australia and India, where water quantity and

quality is extremely variable, this would be a significant benefit. Biochar soil water benefits are maximized in sandy soils than loam and

clay soil. Effects of biomass derived char on percentage of

Available moisture in soils on a volume basis Soil 0% biochar 15% biochar 30% biochar 45% biochar

Sand 6.7 7.1 7.5 7.9

Loam 10.6 10.6 10.6 10.6

Clay 17.8 16.6 15.4 14.2 Source: Glaser et al. (2002)

4. Soil pH and soil contamination

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Benefits of biocharSoil enhancement that lasts a lifetimeEnhanced plant growth Increases soil water holding capacity Increases cation exchange capacitySupports soil microbial life and biodiversityHelps plants resist diseases and pathogensStimulated symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumesReduces soil acidity: raises soil pH increased soil aggregation due to

increased fungal hyphaeReduced leaching of nutrients

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Conclusion Biochar called black gold is a pyrolized biomass.

Used as a soil amendment and as a nutrient source.

Different type of feed stock has different type of biochar.

It affect soil as different way for enhancing the condition of soil.

Method of application has different type that variance occur on different

condition.

Benefits of biochar varies on different fector.

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