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Vol. 6, Dec 2017 Page No. 79-87
Biochar amendments on physico-chemical and biological properties of soils
ABSTRACT
The utilization of biochar as an amendment to
improve soil health and the environment has been a
catalyst for the recent global enthusiasm for advancing
biochar production technology and its management.
Biochar is simply carbon rich charcoal-like substance
which is created by heating biomass (organic matter) in
limited oxygen condition, through a process known as
pyrolysis. Locally available weed biomass which is not
economically important and caused crop loss can be
used as an important source of biomass for preparation
of biochar. Biochar is able to ameliorate soil acidity as
well as it is also able to increase the soil fertility. Biochar
reduces leaching of soil nutrients, increases soil
structure and pH, reduces dependency on artificial
fertilizers, enhances nutrient availability for plants,
increases water quality of runoff, reduces toxicity of
aluminum to plant roots and microbiota and thus
reducing the need for lime, reduces bioavailability of
heavy metals, thus works as bioremediation and
decreases N O and CH emissions from soils, thus
2 4
further reducing GHG emissions. Employment of
biochar as a specialized soil amendment provides a
practical approach to address the anticipated problems
in the agronomic and environmental sectors.
Incorporating huge quantity of biochar into soils
provides numerous agricultural benefits, which this
special paper examines. But, there is no concrete
compilation yet how to apply biochar at farm level. This
paper discusses on several factors related to biochar
that need to be considered for maximising the soil
DOI 10.5958/2394-448X.2017.00019.0
E
P
R
S
P
2011
1 2 1
Shaon Kumar Das *, Goutam Kumar Ghosh and R. K. Avasthe
1ICAR- National Organic farming Research Institute, Tadong, Gangtok, India-737102
2Palli-Siksha Bhavan, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, West Bengal, India-731236
*Corresponding author: shaon.iari@gmail.com
Received : 12 July 2017 Accepted : 10 Sep 2017
amelioration and soil quality benefits from the use of
biochar.
Keywords: Amendment; Biochar; Charcoal; GHG
Emissions; Soil Nutrients; Water Quality
INTRODUCTION
Biochar is nothing but carbon rich charcoal-like
substance which is created by heating biomass (organic
matter) in a limited oxygen conditions, a process known
as pyrolysis. Biochar application in soil has received a
growing interest as a sustainable technology to improve
highly weathered or degraded soils (Das et al., 2014). It
guarantees a long term benefit for soil fertility and
productivity. It can enhance plant growth by improving
soil physical characteristics (i.e., bulk density, water
holding capacity, infiltration, porosity), soil chemical
characteristics (i.e., pH, nutrient retention, nutrient
availability), and soil biological properties (i.e.,
microbial biomass carbon), all contributing to an
increased crop productivity. The major quality of
biochar that makes it attractive as a soil amendment is
its highly porous structure which is responsible for
improved water retention and increased soil surface
area (Das et al., 2015).
Benefit of biochar
The major benefits of biochar are impressive
because it reduces leaching of soil nutrients, increases
soil pH and thus reducing the need for lime, enhances
nutrient availability for plants, reduces toxicity of
aluminium to plant roots, increases water quality of
runoff, reduces dependency on fertilisers, reduces
bioavailability of heavy metals and thus works as
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bioremediation, decreases N O and CH emissions from
2 4
soils, thus further reducing GHG emissions (Mate et al.,
2015).
Nutrient value
Biochar is able to improve soil fertility as well as
productivity directly and indirectly.
a. Indirect: The indirect responses due to biochar
application were attributed to either nutrient savings
(in term of fertilizers) or improved fertilizer-use
efficiency. Biochar being high C/N ratio can immobilize
nitrogen which sometimes results in reduced N
availability for short duration. This is the ability of
biochar to retain applied fertilizer against leaching
which results increase in fertilizer use efficiency (Gryze
et al., 2010).
b. Direct: Biochar itself contains some amount of
nutrients which is available directly to plants. Positive
yield responses as a result of biochar application to soils
have been reported for a wide range of crops and plants
in different parts of the world by improving soil quality,
with consequent improvement in the efficiency of
fertilizer use. From an agronomic perspective it is
suggested that biochar could improve soil health by
improving nutrient retention, particularly in coarsely
textured soils (Das et al., 2014).
How can biochar help farmer
Using locally available materials for making
biochar could provides an unique opportunity to
improve soil fertility for longer period of time to the
farmers. Biochar should apply along with other inputs
like compost, manure or biopesticides at the same rate
every year to realize actual benefits. Application rates of
these organic inputs can be reduced when nutrients are
combined with biochar because biochar itself contain
some nutrient (Major et al., 2009). During conversion of
organic residues into biochar farmers can also receive
an energy yield by capturing energy given off in the
biochar production process. In hilly and desert areas
soil loss, weathering and degradation occur at
unprecedented rates which causes imbalance in
ecosystem properties. Biochar can play a major role in
organic agriculture for sustainable soil management by
improving existing best management practices, not
only to decrease nutrient loss through leaching by
percolating water but also to improve soil productivity
(Jeffery et al., 2015).
Biochar and water availability
Biochar addition in soil increases water holding
capacity and plant available water in sandy soils. In dry
areas where water quantity and quality is extremely
variable, it would contribute a significant benefit.
Biochar has a high surface area with increased micro
pores and improves the water holding properties of
porus sandy soils. Therefore, biochar application for
soil water benefits is maximized in sandy soils (Das et
al., 2012). Thus, there are enormous benefits of biochar
in cropping areas where cost of water is very high such
as dry areas.
Effect on soil pH
Soil pH is an important factor for plant growth
because nutrient availability in soils depends on soil
pH. Most of the macronutrients are available in neutral
soils. In order to neutralize acidic soils, farmers apply
thousands of tons of lime to farm soils at great expense.
Biochar have an effect on soil pH (Rodr´ýguez-Vila et al.,
2014). It can react similarly as agricultural lime do (by
increasing soil pH). If a soil has a low cation exchange
capacity, it is not able to retain nutrients and the
nutrients are often washed out leaching. Biochar in its
pores having large surface area develops some negative
charges and thus provides more negatively charged
sites for cations to be retained when added to soil
(Steinbeiss et al., 2009).
Effect on soil physical properties
Biochar application improved the saturated
hydraulic conductivity of the top soil and xylem sap
flow of the rice plant. It increases water holding capacity
in sandy soil. Peanut hull biochar have ability to reduce
moisture stress in sandy soil. It improves soil physical
condition for earthworm populations. Application of
6.6 metric tons cassia biochar/ha is enough to initiate C-
accumulation, which reflect in an increase in organic
matter and a net reduction in soil bulk density (Das et al.,
2014).
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Effect on soil chemical properties
Biochar contribute some quantity of nutrients in
soil through the negative charges that develops on its
surfaces. This negative charge can easily buffer acidity
in the soil (as does organic matter). Due to its high
alkalinity nature it has been demonstrated to reduce
aluminium toxicity in acid soils. Application of biochar
to acidic soils can avoid significant amounts of direct
and indirect costs by avoiding GHG emissions
(Hammes et al., 2009). Application of biochar in soil
increase soil pH, EC, CEC and decrease exchangeable
acidity.
Effect of biochar on soil biology
Biochar is able to enhance soil microbial biomass
carbon and carbon mineralization. It stimulates the
activity of a variety of agriculturally important soil
mic roorga nisms and can grea tly affec t t h e
microbiological properties of soils. The pores in biochar
provide a suitable habitat for many microorganisms by
protecting them from predation and drying while
providing many of their diverse carbon (C), energy and
mineral nutrient needs. The intrinsic properties of
biochar and its ability to form complex with different
soil type, can have an impact on soil-plant-microbe
interactions (Hass et al., 2012). Thus, modifications in
the soil microbial community can subsequently
influence changes in nutrient cycling and crop growth
in biochar-amended soil. Biochar application increase
Co adsorption which lead to increase local nutrient
concentrations for microbial community species and
enhanced water retention Dehydrogenase activity and
microbial biomass carbon are enhanced due to biochar
application in soils (Das et al., 2012).
Application of biochar in soil
There are different methods for application of
biochar in soil like broadcasting, deep banding, band
application, spot placement, etc. However, method of
biochar application in soil mainly depends on farming
system, labour and available machinery. Generally
farmers apply biochar in their own field by hand only.
But due to prolonged contact with airborne biochar
particulates, it is not viable on large-scale considering
human health. Broadcasting application needs large
amount to cover whole field. Suitable method of
application deposits biochar directly into the
rhizosphere, and may be viable for perennial cropping
systems, and previously established crops (Jefferym et
al., 2011). Deep banding of biochar has been successfully
implemented in several wheat fields in Western
Australia. Mixing of biochar with composts, manures
and other organic input may reduce odours, colour and
improve nutrient performance over time due to slower
leaching rates. Mixtures may be applied for uniform
topsoil mixing without incorporation (Das et al., 2011).
Table. Effect of biochar on different soil properties
Table. Effect of biochar on different soil properties
Factor
Bulk density
Soil moisture retention
Liming agent
Cation exchange capacity
Nutrient use efficiency
Crop productivity
CH4 emission
N2O emission
Biological nitrogen fixation
Mycorrhizal fungi
Impact
Soil dependent
Upto 25% increase
1 point pH increase
50% increase
10-20% increase
30-100% increase
90% decrease
50% decrease
50% increase
30% increase
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and offerin g the possibil i t y of decreas i n g
environmental pollution by nutrients and improving
crop yields. Thus, biochar application could provide a
new technology for both soil fertility and crop
productivity improvement, with potential positive and
quantifiable environmental benefits (Kookana et al.,
(2010).
Land restoration/reclamation
Biochar have received considerable attention in
recent years as soil amendment for both sequestering
heavy metal contaminants and releasing essential
nutrients like sulphur. Biochar are porous with a polar
and aromatic surface (Das et al., 2015). They have a high
surface to volume ratio and a strong affinity to non-
polar substances such as polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, PBDEs, furans
(PCDD/Fs), and PCBs. Through the intervention of
biochar, groundwater could be protected from the
hydrophobic herbicide, insecticide and fungicide.
Biochar applications have the potential to absorb
pollution by adsorbing ammonia to reduce ammonia
volatilization in agricultural soils (Laird et al., 2010).
Heavy metal sorption
The use of biochar to remove contaminants
such as organic contaminants or metals is a relatively
novel and promising technology. Biochar made from
bagasse and other agricultural residues is effective
alternative, low-cost environmental sorbents of lead or
other heavy metals. Several studies have reported the
effective removal of lead by biochar sorbents. Like
many other traditional sorbents, the high affinity for
lead and other metal ion species bound by biochar may
be controlled by other mechanisms as well, including
complexation, chelation, and ion exchange. Application
of maize stalk biochar is useful to ameliorate chromium
(Cr) polluted soils and reduce the amount of carbon
produced due to biomass burning (Rajkovich et al.,
2012).
Pathogen and biochar interaction
Researchers have reported both increased root
colonization and stimulated mycorrhizal fungus spore
germination in response to biochar application
Application rates
Application of biochar in soils is based on its
properties like agricultural value from enhanced soils
nutrient retention and water holding capacity, carbon
sequestration and reduced GHG emissions. There is no
specific rate of application of biochar in soil. It depends
on many factors including type of biomass used, the
types and proportions of various nutrients (N, P, etc.),
the degree of metal contamination in the biomass, and
also climatic and topographic factors of the land (Jones
et al., 2012). It was found that rates between 5-10 t/ha
2
(0.5-1 kg/m ) have often been found better. Due to
variability in biochar materials, nature of crop and soils,
farmer should always consider testing several rates of
biochar application on a small scale before setting out to
apply it on large areas. Even low rates of biochar
application can significantly increase crop productivity
assuming if the biochar is rich in nutrients. Biochar
application rates sometimes also depend on the amount
of dangerous metals present in the original biomass
(Das et al., 2014).
Soil health management
Biochar can act as a soil conditioner by
improving soil physical, chemical and biological
properties. Benefits from biochar application rates can
be maximized only if the soil is rich in nitrogen or if the
crops are nitrogen-fixing legumes. Researcher found
that application of biochar to soils in a legume-based
(e.g. peanut and maize) rotational cropping system,
clovers and lucernes is more beneficial. Significant
changes in soil quality, including increase in pH,
organic carbon and exchangeable cations were
observed at higher rates of biochar application, i.e. > 50
t/ha. When mixed with organic matter, biochar can
result in enhanced retention of soil water as a result of
its pore structure which contributes to nutrient
retention because of its ability to trap nutrient rich water
within the pores. Biochar is able strongly to adsorb
phosphate, even though it is an anion (Knowles et al.,
2011). It is reported that the higher BNF with biochar
additions is due to greater Mo and B availability. These
properties make biochar a unique substance, retaining
exchangeable and plant available nutrients in the soil,
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providing additional incomes, and may reduce the
quantity of inorganic fertilizer use and importation
(Kimetu et al., 2010). The impact of biochar application is
seen most in highly degraded acidic or nutrient
depleted soils. Low biochar application in soil has
shown marked impact on various plant species,
whereas higher rates seemed to inhibit plant growth.
So, moderate additions of biochar are usually beneficial.
Effect on upland rice
Bio char impro ve satur a ted hydr aulic
conductivity of the top soil and the xylem sap flow in
upland rice plant. Researchers found that it increased
higher grain yields at sites with low P availability and
improved the response to N and NP chemical fertilizer
treatments (Lehmann et al., 2009). It also reduced leaf
SPAD values, possibly through a reduction of the
availability of soil nitrogen, indicating that biochar
without additional N fertilizer application could reduce
grain yields in soils with a low indigenous N supply.
Effect on nodulation and nitrogenise activity
Biochar addition increase root nodule number,
localised N fixation per nodule, nitrogenise activity in
2
legumes, mycorrhizal colonisation and plant-growth
promoting organisms in the rhizosphere. Increased
nodulation following biochar application could
increase sustainable N input into agro ecosystems.
Biochar applications also increase nitrogen fixation
rates. Increased micronutrient availability (e.g. Mo and
B), together with the liming effect on soil pH following
biochar application has been proposed as the
mechanisms for increased biological N fixation of pot
2
grown beans (Sohi et al., 2010). Symbiotic association
between biochar and mycorrhizal association showed
that biochar could influence mycorrhizal abundance.
Rice biochar showed greater microbial activities than
other biochar because of its higher liability (Gaskin et al.,
2008).
Carbon sequestration
In order to considerably increase long-term C
sequestration, biomass has to be converted to a
relatively non-degradable form, such as biochar. The
biochar is highly resistant to microbial activity,
probably due to improved soil physicochemical
properties through enhanced nutrient availability. The
efficacy of biochar is dependent on saprophytic fungal
activity, which, through their extracellular enzymatic
activity and hyphal growth/penetration, can violate the
integrity of the material. Citrus wood biochar @1%
(w/w) in sandy soil was found to be effective against
Leveillula taurica (powdery mildew) and Botrytis cinerea
(grey mold) in pepper and tomato and also in mite
Polyphagotarsonemus latus in pepper (Das et al., (2014).
Beside this, tolerance of asparagus seedlings to
Fusarium oxysporum is also enhanced by biochar.
Cattle feedlot biochar
Potential sources of organic materials for
biochar production include urban green wastes,
forestry and crop processing residues as well as animal
manures. Biochar made from cattle feedlot manure is an
effecti ve soil amendmen t for i mproving t he
productivity in acid soil. This biochar contain high
mineral P content which remained as plant available for
long period (3 years). The increase in P availability led
to enhanced P uptake which results in an increase in N
uptake and N use efficiency. Manure-based feedstocks
tend to have lower carbon content, and higher
nutrient/mineral content compared to wood based
biochar. Biochar from urban green waste have no
harmful effect on pasture productivity (Mohan et al.,
2014). Biochar has the capacity to increase soil C
accumulation rates in acidic pasture systems. Green
waste biochar enhance soil C accumulation at a faster
rate than farm manure biochar.
Crop production
Biochar applications to soils have shown
positive responses for net primary crop production,
grain yield and dry matter. Application of wheat straw
biochar along with NPK significantly increase the yield
of maize in Inceptisol than either crop residue
incorporation (CRI) or crop residue burning (CRB).
Higher agronomic nitrogen use efficiency was recorded
with application of biochar. The combined application
of biochar along with organic/inorganic fertilizer has
the potential to increase crop productivity, thus
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Overall, these benefits make the biochar process carbon
negative as long as biomass production is managed
sustainably. Biochar system also needs to be taken into
account, viz., emissions resulting from biomass growth,
collection, pyrolysis, spreading and transport, to
consider it a truly carbon negative. Due to its capability
to actively reduce the atmospheric concentrations of
greenhouse gases, biochar technology may be
considered as geoengineering solution. It may also be
considered as a long wave geoengineering option for
climate change mitigation as it plays a role into the
removal of CO from the atmosphere and enhances the
2
level of long wave radiation leaving from the planet. A
biochar system is a carbon sink, where agricultural
crops are grown and is subsequently pyrolysed to
produce biochar, which is then applied to soil. In carbon
cycle, plants remove CO from atmosphere via
2
photosynthesis and convert it into biomass. But all of
that carbon (99%) is returned to atmosphere as CO
2
when plants die and decay, or immediately if biomass is
burned as a renewable substitute for fossil fuels. In
biochar cycle, half (50%) of that carbon is removed and
sequestered as biochar and the rest half (50%) is
converted to renewable energy co-products before
being returned to the atmosphere. A more efficient way
to increase and maintain a high soil organic matter
content would be to apply more stable C products such
as biochar. Future political agreements may make it
profitable for farmers to add biochar to soil. Large
amounts of carbon in biochar may be sequestered in the
soil for long periods estimated to be hundreds to
thousands of years. Terra preta soils suggest that biochar
can have carbon storage permanence in soil for many
hundreds to thousands of years. Biochar mineralizes in
soils in a little fraction and remains in a very stable form
which provides it the potential to be a major carbon
sink. About 12% of the total anthropogenic carbon
emissions by land use change (0.21 Pg C) can be offset
annually in soil, if the slash-and-burn system is replaced
by the slash-and-char system. Compared with other
terrestrial sequestration strategies, such as afforestation
or re-forestation, carbon sequestration in biochar
increases its storage time. The principal mechanisms
considerably augmenting the recalcitrant fraction of
SOC and decreasing emissions of CO from soil. In
2
addition, biochar application was reported to decrease
emissions of CH , and N O from soils. Despite the
4 2
recalcitrant nature of biochar, about 40% of the total
biomass-C of the feedstock is lost during the pyrolysis
process, and an additional 10% is mineralized over a
few months after biochar application in soil.
Nevertheless, the remaining 50% of the total C is
relatively stable. The degree of stability of the biochar-C
depends on its specifications. While C in biochar
produced by high temperature pyrolysis is either
recalcitrant or degradable at an extremely slow rate,
some of the C in biochar produced under low
temperatures is biodegradable. In addition, compared
with fallow soils, application of biochar increases rates
of CO emissions from the amended soil. This response
2
may be explained by several factors, such as lower bulk
density, improved aeration, and higher pH, providing a
favorable habitat for soil microorganisms (Novak et al.,
2009).
Considering an application rate of between 10 and
100 Mg biochar per hectare and that biochar's C
concentration is between 50% and 78%, and assuming a
total area of 1,411Mha cropland around the world, then
the global capacity for storing biochar-C under this
landuse is between 7 and 110 Pg. Annual net emissions
of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide could be
reduced by a maximum of 1.8 Pg CO –C equivalent
2
(CO –Ce) per year (12% of current anthropogenic
2
CO –Ce emissions), and total net emissions over the
2
course of a century by 130 Pg CO –Ce, by utilizing the
2
maximum sustainable technical potential of biochar to
mitigate climate change, without endangering food
security, habitat or soil conservation. When the use of
the process of biochar sequesters more carbon than it
emitted, it is carbon negative. Biochar holds 50% of the
carbon biomass and it sequesters that carbon for
centuries when applied into the soil, removing the CO
2
from the active cycle and thus reduce overall amount of
atmospheric CO . Plant growth is also enhanced by this
2
process as it absorbs more CO from atmosphere.
2
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decomposition and ensures that carbon remains locked
away from the atmosphere for hundreds to thousands
of years. In addition, gases released in the process of
creating biochar can be used to make bio fuels. If we
want to tackle climate change challenges, we must
emphasize the potential of soil to sequester carbon.
Sustainable biochar can be used now to combat global
warming by holding carbon in soil and by displacing
fossil fuel use.
Safety concern
Application of large amounts of biochar to
agricultural soils entails significant practical and
technical barriers like safe production and use. This risk
is similar to other dusts that can become combustible
hazards, such as coal, plastics, some metals, foods, and
woods. The dust of biochar can spontaneously combust
and poses a minor risk when handled, stored, or
transported in enclosed spaces (Liu et al., 2012, Nelissen
et al., 2012). Some biochar contain toxic materials that
are controlled by “permissible exposure limit”
standards in many countries. The levels of these toxic
materials in the biochar are highly dependent on both
the biomass feedstock and its production. So, there is no
straightforward permissible exposure limit available
for biochar as yet (Ogawa et al., 2010).
CONCLUSION
Soil amendment with biochar has attracted a
fair amount of research interest due to its abundant
usage and wide potential, which includes enhancing
crop production by improving soil fertility, decreasing
greenhouse gas emissions and increasing soil carbon
sequestration (Renner et al., 2007). Use of biochar in
agricultural systems is one viable option that can
improve the soil quality, increase carbon sequestration
in soil, and reduce farm waste. The initial outcomes
reveal that biochar application helps in improving soil
health and crop productivity (Sohi et al., 2010).
However, to promote the application of biochar as a soil
amendment and also as a climate change abatement
option, research, development and demonstration on
biochar production and application is very vital.
operating in soils through which biochar entering the
soil is stabilized and increase its residence time in soil
are due to formation of interactions between mineral
surfaces, intrinsic recalcitrance and spatial separation of
decomposers and substrate (Githinji et al., (2013).
Carbon credit
Application of higher amounts of biochar to
soils may increase the carbon credit benefit to the
farmers. Carbon added to the fields in the form of
biochar could give farmers C credits that can be sold on
a C credit market for additional income. Increasing the
4
C sink in soil will help reduce the amounts of CO , CH ,
2
and N O.
2
Stability in soil
Biochar is not a single material, and its
characteristics vary depending upon from where and
how it is made. Stability of biochar in soil is important in
determining environmental benefits because stability
determines how long carbon (C) applied to soil as
biochar will remain sequestered in soil and contribute
to mitigate climate change and how long biochar can
provide benefits to soil and water quality (Das et al.,
2012). Most of the biochar commonly used by the farmer
have a small labile (easily decomposed) fraction in
addition to a much larger stable fraction. The mean
residence time of this stable fraction is estimated to
range from hundred to thousand years.
Impact on climate change
Biochar technology is called as geoengineering
solution that has potential to actively reduce the
atmospheric concentrations of green house gases. As it
results in the removal of CO from the atmosphere and
2
increases level of long wave radiation leaving the
planet, it is considered as a long wave geoengineering
option for climate change mitigation. A biochar system,
where agricultural crops are grown, and subsequently
pyrolyzed to produce biochar, which is then applied to
soil, is a carbon sink. This means CO from atmosphere
2
is sequestered as carbohydrates in the growing plant
and conversion of the plant biomass to biochar
stabilizes this carbon (Keith et al., 2011). The
stabilization of carbon in biochar delays its
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Science and Pollution Research, 21: 11293 11304.
Steinbeiss S, Gleixner G, Antonietti M. (2009) Effect of
biochar amendment on soil carbon balance and soil
microbial activity. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 41:
1301–1310.
Das SK (2014) Recent Development and Future of
Botanical Pesticides in India. Popular Kheti, 2: 93-99.
Hammes K, Schmidt WI (2009) Changes of biochar in
soil. In Lehmann J, Joseph S (eds.) Biochar for
Environmental Management: Science and Technology.
Earthscan, London. pp. 169–182.
Hass A, Gonzalez JM, Lima IM, Godwin HW,
Halvorson JJ, Boyer DG (2012) Chicken manure biochar
as liming and nutrient source for acid Appalachian soil.
Journal Environmental Quality, 41: 1096–1106.
Das SK, Mukherjee I (2012) Effect of moisture and
organic manure on persistence of flubendiamide in soil.
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology,
88: 515–520.
Jefferym S, Verheijen, FGA, van der Velde, M and
Bastos, AC (2011) A quantitative review of the effects of
biochar application to soils on crop productivity using
meta-analysis. Agronomy, Ecosystem and Environment,
144: 175–187.
Das SK, Mukherjee I (2011) Effect of light and pH on
persistence of flubendiamide. Bulletin of Environmental
Contamination and Toxicology, 87: 292-296.
Jones DL, Rousk J, Edwards-Jones G, DeLuca TH,
Murphy DV (2012) Biochar-mediated changes in soil
quality and plant growth in a three year field trial. Soil
Biology and Biochemistry, 45: 113-124.
Das SK, Mukherjee I (2014) Influence of microbial
community on degradation of flubendiamide in two
Indian soils. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment,
186: 3213–3219.
Knowles OA, Robinson BH, Contangelo A, Clucas L
(2011) Biochar for the mitigation of nitrate leaching
from soil amended with biosolids. Science of Total
Environment, 409: 3206–3210.
Kookana RS (2010) The role of biochar in modifying the
environmental fate, bioavailability, and efficacy of
pesticides in soils: a review. Soil Research,48: 627–637.
Das SK, Mukherjee I, Kumar A (2015) Effect of soil type
and organic manure on adsorption– desorption of
fl ube ndi amide. E nvi ron men tal M oni tor ing an d
Assessment, 187: 403. DOI 10.1007/s10661-015-4623-2.
Laird DA, Fleming P, Davis DD, Horton R, Wang BQ,
Karlen DL (2010) Impact of biochar amendments on the
quality of a typical midwestern agricultural soil.
Geoderma,158: 443–449.
Rajkovich S, Enders A, Hanley K, Hyland C,
Zimmerman AR, Lehmann J (2012) Corn growth and
nitrogen nutrition after additions of biochars with
varying properties to a temperate soil. Biology and
Fertility of Soils, 48: 271–284.
Agricultural Sciences, 5: 765-769. http://dx.doi.org/
10.4236/as.2014.59080.
Mohan D, Sarswat A, Ok YS, Pittman CU (2014)
Organic and inorganic contaminants removal from
water with biochar, a renewable, low cost and
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sustainable adsorbent – a critical review. Bioresource
Technology, 160: 191–202.
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of biochar and green manure in soil with different
organic carbon contents. Australian Journal of Soil
Research, 48: 577–585.
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of biochar in the soil. In J. Lehmann and S. Joseph (Eds.),
Biochar for environmental management (pp. 183–206).
London, England: Earthscan.
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biochar and its use and function in soil. Advances in
Agronomy, 105: 47-82.
Gaskin JW, Steiner C, Harris K, Das KC, Bibens B (2008)
Effect of low-temperature pyrolysis conditions on
biochar for agricultural use. Transactions of the American
Society of Agricultural Engineers, 51: 2061–2069.
Novak JM, Busscher WJ, Laird DL, Ahmedna M, Watts
DW, Niandu MAS (2009) Impact of biochar amendment
on fertility of a southeastern coastal plain soil. Soil
Science, 174: 105–112.
Githinji L (2013) Effect of biochar application rate on
soil physical and hydraulic properties of a sandy loam.
Archive of Agronomy and Soil Science, 60: 457-470.
doi:10.108 0/03650340.2013.821698.
Das SK, Mukherjee I (2012) Flubendiamide Transport
Through Packed Soil Columns. Bulletin of Environmental
Contamination and Toxicology, 88: 229–233.
Keith A, Singh B, Singh BP (2011) Interactive priming of
biochar and labile organic matter mineralization in a
smectite-rich soil. Environmental Science and Technology,
45: 9611–9618. doi:10.1021/ es202186j.
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Pan G X (2012) Can biochar amendment be an ecological
engineering technology to depress N2O emission in rice
paddies?—A cross site field experiment from south
China. Ecology and Engineering, 42: 168–173.
Nelissen V, R¨utting T, Huygens D, Staelens J,
Ruysschaert G, Boeckx P (2012) Maize biochars
accelerate short-term soil nitrogen dynamics in a loamy
sand soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 55: 20–27.
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biochar research, Japan. Australian Soil Research, 48:
489–500.
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Science and Technology, 41: 5932–5933.
Sohi SP, Krull E, Lopez-Capel E, Bol R (2010) A review
of biochar and its use and function in soil. Advances in
Agronom, 105: 47–82.
Shaon Kumar Das is working as a
Scientist (Agricultural Chemistry/
Soil Science) at ICAR-National
Orga n i c F a r m in g R e s e a rc h
Institute, Gangtok, Sikkim under
ICAR. He did his M.Sc. in 2010
from Indian Agricultural Research
Institute, New Delhi with gold medal for his
outstanding contribution. Then he joined in
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in 2011 as scientist.
Dr. Das is a regular member of the Society of Pesticide
Sci ence, Ass ocia tion of Agro meteo rolog ists ,
International Journal of Bio-resource and Stress
Management and Indian society of soil science. He has
published 17 national and 15 international research
articles, 8 review articles in national and International
journals, 19 popular article, 21 extension folder, 2 books,
21 book chapters in edited books. He is a regular
reviewer of many International journals and also a
member of the editorial board. He got DST-INSPIRE
fellowship in 2010. He has been awarded the Young
th
Scientist award by 5 faculty branding award of
education expo TV in 2017 and also by society for
scientific development in agriculture and technology in
2017. He also got 2 best oral presentation awards.
Several invited talk delivered by him. Now he has 2
internal projects as PI, 8 as Co-PI and 2 as Co-PI in DST
project. He has been involved in the research on carbon
sequestration, soil fertility management, soil acidity
reclamation, organic nutrient standardization of major
hill crops. Currently he is working on characterization
of biochar and their application on soil for management
of soil health.
