Experimental Investigation on Biochar Production and Application: Solution to Air Pollution due to Stubble Burning as well as Amending Soil Consistency
- Vol, 102 (3) september
- Germany Springer 2021
- 705-712p
open burning and direct burning of stubble (crop residues) in agricultural fields by the Indian farmers especially in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and other states of India pose an environmental threat by causing abnormally high level of smog and air pollution in the ambient atmosphere. A study has been carried out to find out a feasible solution for immediate disposal of agricultural waste in a safe and environment-friendly way and at the same time converting the agro-waste into a useful product, biochar, which can be applied back to the agricultural fields for amendment of soil. An easy and simple method of producing biochar has been developed by the authors, wherein the crop residues can be converted into biochar by an individual farmer on field itself without much investment and technical skills. Application of biochar not only reduces the introduction of harmful gases into the environment but also amends the physical and chemical properties of the soil. The process of making biochar and the effects of utilizing biochar on the consistency properties of soil have been presented in this paper, which will prove useful for the Indian context as the research in this direction is getting impetus to find an optimum way out for management and disposal of large quantities of agricultural wastes produced which otherwise create environmental air pollution and degradation of soil quality when directly burnt in the fields.