Biochar a boon

Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

EFFECT OF BIOCHAR ON GROWTH AND YIELD
OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

Ankur Scientific, Baroda, India


What is Biochar?
Biochar is the carbon rich product when
biomass is heated with little or no available
oxygen.
It is produced by thermal decomposition of
organic material under limited supply of
oxygen and at relatively llow t
d t l ti l
temperatures.
t
In short, Biochar is a charcoal like solid that
can be generated from most types of organic
matter.

1


How is Biochar generated?
Gasification is one of the dominant thermal
decomposition processes producing gas along
with biochar.
biochar.
Gasification is the process of converting solid
fuels to gaseous fuel.
fuel.
The process involves drying pyrolysis
drying, pyrolysis,
combustion with air, reduction into combustible
gases, (carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane,
some higher hydrocarbons) and inerts,
inerts,
(carbon dioxide and nitrogen).
nitrogen).


The reactions of Gasification process

2


Properties of Biochar from Gasifiers
The yield of Biochar as by-product could be
from 6% to 35%.
Has 7-10% ash and 70-75% fixed carbon.
Calorific value ranges from 5500 6500
5500-6500
kcal/kg.


Potential impact of Biochar on soils
Enhances the health of the soil.
Increases the pH of acidic soils (since biochar is typically
alkaline).
Increases water & nutrient retention.
Biochar carbon is chemically altered during Gasification & thus
are resistant to attack by micro-organisms
micro-organisms.
Biochar carbon can remain stabilized for long periods of time
(100 to 1000 years).
Is therefore an important way of storing carbon that has been
scavenged from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.

3


Potential impact of Biochar on soils


Systematic study done by ‘Ankur’ on application of gasifier
biochar on crop response.
Ankur conducted systematic studies on application of gasifier
biochar on crop response, mainly wheat.
Wheat is an important food grain providing nourishment to nearly
35% people of the world.
It contributes to about 60% of the daily protein requirement and
more calories to the world diet than any other food crop.
The field experiment was conducted under irrigated condition
during rabi, 2011-12 in the R&D fields of ‘Ankur’.
Biochar produced from WBG 400 gasifier was analyzed for its
physico-chemical and nutritional properties and the results are
presented in the following slides.

4


Physico-Chemical and Nutritional Properties of Biochar
Biochar produced from ‘Ankur’ Gasifier was analyzed & the values are as below:
Sr.
Sr No

Parameter

Values

1

Moisture, %

4.72

2

Ash, % of dry wt

19.26

3

Volatile, % of dry wt

3.68

4

Fixed carbon, % of dry wt

77.06

5

Calorific Value kcal/kg dry wt
Value,

6609

6

Nitrogen as N, % of dry wt

0.46

7

Phosphorus as P2O5, % of dry wt

2.70

8

Potassium as K2O, % of dry wt

3.90

Biochar is rich in carbon & has higher values of P2O5 and K2O compared to
Farm Yard Manure (FYM).


Chemical Properties of the Soil in Experimental Site
Sr. No

Parameter

Values

1

Soil pH (1:2 soil: water suspension)

7.42

2

Electrical conductivity (dS m-1)

0.44

3

Organic carbon (OC % )

0.38

4

Available phosphorus (kg P2O5 ha-1)

17.50

5

Available potassium (kg K2O ha-1)

212.50

5


Treatments given
The following three treatments were given
T1 (Control): No fertilizer was used.
T2 (Biochar+ Urea): 50 kg ha-1 P2O5 through biochar and 3 splits of
128 kg ha-1 N through urea ; 1/3 as basal + 1/3 at tillering + 1/3 at
milking.
T3 (DAP+ U ) 50 k h -1 P2O5 th
Urea): kg ha 1
through DAP and 3 splits of 128 kg
h
d
lit f
k
-1 N through urea; 1/3 as basal + 1/3 at tillering + 1/3 at milking.
ha
Design, layout and Plot size: The field experiment was laid down in
simple plot design with three treatments and replicated three times.
The plot size was 3m x 5m = 15 m2


Fertilizer application
No fertilizer was applied in T1.
pp
In T2, no phosphorus was applied. Instead 2 tons of biochar
ha-1 was applied by uniformly spreading and mixing with soil
during the preparation of land and 128 N kg ha-1 in the form
of urea was applied as per treatment.
In T3, the recommended dose of 128:50 NP kg ha-1 was
applied in the form of urea and diammonium phosphate.
Phosphorus was applied on the day of sowing while nitrogen
was applied as per treatment.

6


Overview of Experimental Plots after 60 Days
The fertilizer application was followed by seeds sowing, irrigation and after care like
iinterculturing, controlling weeds iin b t
t
lt i
t lli
d
between th rows etc. and th result was as f ll
the
t
d the
lt
follows:


The Results - Plant Height at Different Growth Stages
Plant height in cm
Treatment
After 30 days

After 45 days

After 60 days

At harvest

T1 (control)

28.2

43.0

55.9

56.3

T2
(Biochar+Urea)

35.4

53.8

65.9

67.4

T3
(DAP+Urea)

30.1

44.2

64.1

64.4

7


The Results - Ear Length at Different Growth Stages

Ear length in cm
Treatment
After 60 days

At harvest

T1 (Control)

5.8

6.0

T2 (Biochar+Urea)

8.8

9.0

T3 ( DAP+Urea)

7.1

7.5


The Results - 1000 Grain Weight and Grains Per Ear Head

Treatment

Grains per ear head

1000-grain weight (g)

T1 (control)

44.47

50.332

T2 (Biochar+Urea)

48.51

54.301

T3 ( DAP+Urea)

46.83

52.951

8


The Results - Grain Yield, Straw Yield and Harvest Index
Yield and Attributes
Treatment

T2
(Biochar+Urea)
T3 ( DAP+Urea)

Straw yield

Total yield

Harvest

(kg ha-1)
T1 (control)

Grain yield

(kg ha-1)

(kg ha-1)

Index

3030

5266

8296

0.365
0 365

7112

10308

17420

0.408

6014

9441

15455

0.389


Conclusions of the experimentation
Combined biochar and fertilizer application has increased
the grain yield as well as straw yield.
All the growth parameters of wheat crop were better when
biochar and N fertilizer were applied in combination
replacing P fertilizer.
Application of biochar can save P fertilizer.
Soil productivity as indicated by the yield and attributes
increases with use of biochar.

9


Trials with Maize….and other crops..
Similar results have been obtained with Maize
Maize.

The results are likely to be generally applicable to
almost all crops with possibly greater impact on Pulses.


Thank You

(Complete details of Ankur’s biochar experiment with process and
results can be made available on request).

10

Biochar a boon

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