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Biochar for the Improvement of Crop Production

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Mineral Biofortification in Crop Plants for Ensuring Food Security

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Abstract

Rapid urbanization and population increase had a significant negative impact on soil health and fertility, putting additional burden on farming systems. Due to the excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in farming techniques, results in large greenhouse gas emissions. To fulfill the rising food demand has also contributed to these unsustainable farming methods. It is crucial that agricultural techniques improve soil microbiology, water retention, and fertiliser effectiveness. In recent years, biochars have gained attention for their potential as soil amendments. Biochars are produced by thermochemically processing biomass and are rich in carbon. The source feedstock and the reaction circumstances have an impact on the quality of the biochar during the pyrolysis processes, which heat up to 100 °C in oxygen-limited environments. Due to its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote soil fertility, increase agricultural yield, and improve crop quality, biochar is attracting a lot of attention. The sequestration of stable carbon molecules in soil by biochar may also directly contribute in reducing climate change, as well as indirect effects such as enhancing tree carbon absorption. Global climate change and soil degradation are causing increasing difficulties that can be alleviated by the use of biochar. An effective technique to increase soil fertility is through making efficient use of crop residues and other farm wastes by turning them into a valuable source of soil amendment. Biochar’s addition as a soil amendment has had a significant impact on the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the soil. When applied to soil, biochar decreases the bulk density and increases microbial activity, pH, and water holding capacity, however the effects vary depending on the texture of the soil. The addition of biochar has also increase soil porosity and infiltration rates.

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Acknowledgments

We are thankful to the Director, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Dayalbagh, Agra for providing kind support and infrastructure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Dayalbagh, Agra, India

    Jeetendra Singh, Santendra Kumar Soni & Rajiv Ranjan

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  1. Jeetendra Singh
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  2. Santendra Kumar Soni
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  3. Rajiv Ranjan
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Mirza Hasanuzzaman

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan

    Muhammad Suleman Tahir

  3. University of Tasmania, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Mohsin Tanveer

  4. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan

    Adnan Noor Shah

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Singh, J., Soni, S.K., Ranjan, R. (2023). Biochar for the Improvement of Crop Production. In: Hasanuzzaman, M., Tahir, M.S., Tanveer, M., Shah, A.N. (eds) Mineral Biofortification in Crop Plants for Ensuring Food Security. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4090-5_13

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