Enhancing Soil Fertility Through Biochar Application: A Sustainable Approach to Management in Soybean-Wheat Cropping Sequence

Abstract

Biochar is a carbon-rich organic product produced through the pyrolysis of crop residues. Its porous structure and high surface area contribute to excellent nutrient and water-holding capacity, as well as high cation exchange capacity in the soil. Due to its slow degradation, biochar can remain in the soil for more than 11 years, enhancing soil organic carbon over time.

The study reveals that biochar treated with biofertilizers (nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, and potash-solubilizing bacteria) at a level of 5 tons/ha and 8tons/ha with a 25% reduced dose of recommended chemical fertilizers enhances grain in soybean and wheat respectively.

Reducing the use of chemical fertilizers by 25% can also help maintain soil health without compromising yields in soybean-wheat cropping sequence. Therefore, the application of microbial-treated biochar (enriched with biofertilizers) at 5 and 8 tons/ha, combined with a 25% reduced dose of recommended dose of chemical fertilizers, provides better results compared to untreated biochar (referred to as charcoal) and the exclusive use of chemical fertilizers across cropping seasons.