Utilizing Agricultural Waste in Production of Biochar for Improving Soil Properties and Increasing Crop Yield Through Field Application

Abstract

Management of agricultural waste has recently become a grave problem in India. The technological advancement and farm mechanization have resulted into improved crop production, but simultaneously, in the absence of practical and economic options, the farmers prefer to burn the agricultural waste in open fields which creates environmental threats in terms of emission of greenhouse gases responsible for environmental and human health hazards. The direct burning of agricultural waste also deteriorates the soil quality as well as results in loss of biomass and soil microbes leading to reduced crop yields. This burning of agricultural waste (locally known as Parali) in the adjoining states of Delhi is presumed to be one of the reasons for dense smog and very high air pollution in the national capital region of New Delhi after Kharif season in the months of October to November every year for quite some time. The concerned governments, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Hon’ble Supreme Court of India are constantly monitoring over the issue and have put it on utmost priority to find out a permanent solution of this recurring problem. With the objective of finding out an optimum solution of the problem, a novel indigenous method has recently been found out in which the disposal of agricultural waste is ensured in an eco-friendly manner by converting it into a useful product, known as biochar. The biochar has great potential in mitigating air pollution and, when applied to soils, can help in upgradation of soil properties and increased yield of the crops. The concept behind the innovation is that of the thermal conversion, in which the crop residues are subjected to pyrolysis either in little presence or absence of oxygen. The most significant feature of the method is its adaptability. The farmers can convert their agricultural waste into biochar at the fields, and the biochar so produced can be further applied to the soils for upgrading the soil properties that ultimately helps to increase the crop production. This novel method of producing biochar is very simple and does not require much investment and technical skills.