BIOCHAR APPLICATION : A PROPITIOUS APPROACH TO CLIMATE SMART AGRICULTURE

The increasing challenges posed by climate change require innovative strategies in agriculture to enhance food productivity while minimizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an important strategy that addresses the dual challenges of climate change and food security.Application of biochar as soil amendment in crop lands, has been recognised as an efficient and important approach of CSA.Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from variety of feedstocks through pyrolysis, has high potential of soil carbon sequestration which in turn help not only in improving fertility and productivity of soil, but also in combating climate change.The effectiveness of biochar as a soil amendment mainly depends on the quantity and quality of the biochar which in turn is regulated by the elemental composition, pH, functional groups, and electrical conductivity of biochar.Biochar has certain limitations when used alone which may be overcome by the co-application of biochar with inorganic nitrogen fertilizers.Biochar can also be used as a slow-release fertilizer which may aid in synchronising nutrient supply with plant demand.Thus, judicious use of biochar either alone or in combination of chemical fertilizer can help in achieving food security and also mitigation of climate change.