APPLICATION OF BIOCHAR IMPROVES CROP YIELD BY IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH

  • INCREASES WATER RETENTION CAPACITY OF SOIL
  • PROVIDES SPACE FOR BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS​
  • HELPS INCREASE CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY (CEC) OF SOIL
  • REDUCES SOIL ACIDITY
  • IMPROVES NUTRIENT RETENTION, DECREASES NEED FOR AND LEACHING OF FERTILIZERS
  • ​IMPROVES SOIL FERTILITY
  • ​IMPROVES TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON IN SOIL
  • INCREASES AERATION ​
The effectiveness of Biochar is not only, but largely due to its physical structure:
  • highly porous, resulting in large surface area with many micro-pores
  • high adsorption capacity
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​Biochar has capillary suctioning ability and its micro-pores help in drawing water. These micro-pores are also effective at restoring this soil moisture for roots and small microbes, increasing the water-retention capacity of the soil.
Biochar also has the potential of trapping air of pipes and small tubes. Since Biochar is very porous, the soil turns out to be lighter and looser and aeration increases, providing space for beneficial microorganisms. The porosity also helps in binding of important anions and cations and increases cation exchange capacity. [1]
​Biochar, a liming agent, reduces soil acidity and that leads to improved availability of phosphorus and potassium. When Biochar is applied on the soil, oxidation process is observed on the surface of particles. The reason for the reported high CEC is the oxidation of aromatic carbon which leads to the formation of carboxyl groups. [2]
​The increase in CEC aids in improving soil fertility, as it helps to hold nutrients within the soil after rainfall, opposing the leaching process. Nutrient retention is improved, reducing the need for and leaching of fertilizers.
References 
​1. Woods WI, Falcao NPS, Teixeira WG (2006) Biochar Trials Aim to Enrich Soil for Smallholders. Nature 443: 144-144.
2. Laird D, Fleming P, Wang BQ, Horton R, Karlen D (2010) Biochar Impact on Nutrient Leaching from a Midwestern Agricultural Soil. Geoderma 158: 436-442.