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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Soil mineral depletion is a major issue due mainly to soil erosion and nutrient leaching. The addition of biochar is a partial solution because biochar has been shown to improve soil fertility, to promote plant growth, to increase crop yield, and to reduce contaminations. The main properties of biochar are the following: high surface area with many functional groups, high nutrient content, and slow-release fertilizer. Biochar, a charcoal produced from biomass, can sequester carbon in soil for hundreds to thousands of years. Biochar is created by heating organic material under conditions of limited or no oxygen. Soil organic matter needs to be maintained and further increased to keep soil healthy. Biochar is extremely porous which allows it to retain nutrients and water and improved soil aggregate stability. The quality of biochar as a soil ameliorant depends on the feedstock and on soil type, temperature, and humidity. Converting biomass to biochar offers an excellent method for waste management and using these byproducts for the improvement of soil health and productivity.