By Abdullahi .H. Liman, New Mexico State University.
In recent years, researchers around the world have been discovering an old but powerful tool to improve soil fertility and increase crop yield:
Biochar: But what is biochar, and why is it becoming important to farming and the environment?
Biochar, commonly known as agrichar, is a black, carbon-rich material similar to charcoal. It is produced when plant material, such as trees and animal waste, is burned in a low-oxygen environment, a process called pyrolysis. Unlike regular ash, biochar is stable and does not easily break down in the soil. When applied to farmlands, biochar can transform poor or tired soils into healthy and productive ones
Researchers say biochar can improve soil fertility by holding nutrients and preventing them from washing away, increase soil water retention, which helps crops survive during dry periods, reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, saving farmers money and even trap carbon in the soil, helping to reduce harmful greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
“Biochar works like a sponge in the soil,” explains agricultural scientists. “it stores nutrients and water, making them available to crops for a longer time. This means healthier plants and better harvests for farmers, especially in areas with poor or sandy soils.”
Studies have shown that adding biochar to maize, sorghum, canola, and vegetable farms, to mention but a few, can increase yields by improving soil health. For example, fields treated with biochar have been found to retain more moisture and resist erosion compared to untreated plots.
Besides improving farming, biochar is also beneficial for the environment, as it locks carbon into the soil for hundreds of years, helping to mitigate climate change, which is why experts call biochar “black gold” for agriculture.
As awareness of biochar grows, agricultural extension workers and researchers recommend that farmers learn how to make and apply biochar properly to benefit fully from its potential.
The future of farming could be greener and blacker with biochar.
Sources:
1. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports.
2. Advances in Research
