the study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of bone-derived biochar, produced from slaughterhouse waste, as a multifunctional soil amendment within a climate-smart and circular agriculture framework. The central research question explores whether biochar can enhance maize (Zea mays) productivity, improve soil health, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in arid agroecosystems. A two-season field experiment was conducted on loamy sand soil under drip irrigation to assess the impact of biochar applied at 0, 5, 10, and 20 t ha-1. The responses measured included agronomic traits (plant height, biomass, grain yield), soil biochemical properties (organic carbon, available phosphorus, microbial biomass carbon), GHG emissions (CO₂ and N₂O), and economic returns. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to integrate the agronomic, environmental, and economic outcomes.
Results
biochar significantly improved plant growth, increased biomass by 28%, grain yield by 51%, and enhanced soil quality indicators. Notably, it reduced CO₂ emissions by 24% and N₂O by 15%. The 10 t ha-1 application rate was identified as the most effective in balancing yield, soil health, and emissions mitigation.
Conclusions
bone-derived biochar offers a sustainable, climate-resilient strategy for improving maize productivity and soil health while contributing to GHG reduction and supporting circular economy goals in arid farming systems.
Declining soil fertility is a major constraint to sustainable crop production in sub-Saharan Africa, and sole reliance on inorganic fertilizers raises concerns about long-term soil health. This study evaluated the effects of maize cob biochar and NPK fertilizer, applied individually and in combination, on soil properties, growth, and yield of maize (
Zea mays
L.) in Akure, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Treatments included control, biochar (1.5 and 3.0 t/ha), NPK fertilizer (100 and 200 kg/ha), and a combined application of 1.5 t/ha biochar with 100 kg/ha fertilizer. Growth parameters measured included plant height, leaf area index, internode length, and stem girth, while yield indices and post-harvest soil chemical properties were also assessed. Results showed that all treatments significantly improved maize performance compared to the control. Biochar alone produced the highest growth values and yield components, including cob weight (375.12 g), number of seeds per cob (707.80), and seed weight per cob (203.53 g), compared to the control (161.50 g, 104.73, and 37.49 g, respectively). The combined treatment also recorded high values (313.52 g, 670.50, and 169.94 g). Biochar improved soil properties, increasing organic carbon (0.89%) and organic matter (1.52%) relative to the control (0.69% and 0.19%), while fertilizer enhanced available phosphorus (5.39 cmol/kg). The study concludes that integrating maize cob biochar with inorganic fertilizer is an effective and sustainable strategy for improving soil fertility and maize productivity.
O. Nwafor, A. Johnson, Akinbuwa Olumakinde et al.· Advances in Bioscience and B...· 0 citations
Land degradation, low soil fertility, limited moisture retention and climate variability continue to constrain green gram (Vigna radiata L.) production in smallholder farming systems in coastal Kenya. This study evaluated the effects of biochar, farmyard manure and Hydrogel on soil fertility, soil moisture, crop growth and grain yield of green gram under farmer-managed conditions in Kwale County, Kenya. Field experiments were conducted in Matuga, Lunga Lunga, Msambweni and Shimba Hills using a randomised complete block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of biochar at 10 t ha⁻¹, farmyard manure at 10 t ha⁻¹, Hydrogel at 5 kg ha⁻¹ and an untreated control. Data were collected on soil moisture, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, pH, exchangeable phosphorus, potassium and sulphur, plant height and grain yield. Analysis of variance was performed in R, and treatment means were separated at the 5% significance level. Biochar and farmyard manure generally produced the greatest improvements in soil fertility and crop performance. Biochar increased soil moisture, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, pH and exchangeable phosphorus by 35%, 34%, 49%, 12% and 153%, respectively, compared with the control. Farmyard manure increased the same parameters by 33%, 28%, 36%, 11% and 133%, respectively. Hydrogel produced moderate improvements, particularly in soil moisture. Grain yield increased by 43% under biochar, 36% under farmyard manure and 20% under Hydrogel relative to the control.
Jackson Muema Mulinge, E. Muindi, Morris Dzuya et al.· International Journal of Pla...· 0 citations
Biochar, a carbon-rich solid produced through oxygen-limited pyrolysis of biomass, is increasingly considered a soil amendment for sustainable soil fertility management. Indian agriculture faces continuing pressure from soil degradation, declining soil organic carbon, nutrient depletion, crop-residue burning and climate variability, all of which constrain productivity and resource-use efficiency. This review synthesises literature and field-based evidence relevant to the use of biochar in Indian soil-crop systems. It discusses biochar production through slow, fast and flash pyrolysis using crop residues, woody biomass, and livestock or poultry manure at 300–700 °C, and relates these production conditions to key properties, including porosity, specific surface area, alkaline pH, fixed carbon content and nutrient composition. The review also examines the principal mechanisms through which biochar improves soil fertility, including modification of bulk density, water-holding capacity, aggregate stability, cation exchange capacity, soil reaction, nutrient retention and microbial activity. Evidence reviewed here indicates that biochar can reduce nutrient leaching, influence nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics, contribute to soil carbon sequestration, and mitigate selected greenhouse gas emissions, although responses depend on feedstock, pyrolysis conditions, soil type and crop requirement. Field observations from India suggest that applications within the range of 5–20 t ha⁻¹ can improve the productivity of rice, wheat, maize, legumes, oilseeds, plantation crops and vegetables, with stronger responses generally reported in acidic, sandy and degraded soils. The review further identifies practical constraints to adoption, including production cost, inconsistent product quality, limited standardisation, insufficient extension support and variable soil-crop compatibility. Integrating biochar with integrated nutrient management and decentralised residue management may support more sustainable soil fertility strategies in India.
Manoj Kumar, A. Pandey, Ashutosh Singh et al.· International Journal of Env...· 0 citations
Soil salinization has become a major constraint on sustainable agricultural development and the improvement of crop productivity. However, the effects of biochar combined with different organic amendments on the microbial ecology of saline–alkaline soils and crop performance remain insufficiently understood. This study evaluated the effects of different amendment strategies, including sole applications of fulvic acid (FA), organic fertilizer (OF), and biochar (BC), as well as their combinations. Soil bacterial community composition, richness, and diversity, oat agronomic traits, hay yield, and forage quality indicators were assessed. Spearman correlation analysis and the Mantel test were employed to examine the relationships among soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, and crop performance. Combined applications exerted stronger effects on modulating soil bacterial community composition than sole applications, while FA, BC, or their combinations significantly enhanced bacterial richness and diversity. Crop responses exhibited distinct functional differentiation among combined treatments. The biochar combined with fulvic acid (BC + FA) treatment showed the greatest potential for promoting oat growth and increasing yield, with plant height and stem diameter reaching 99.20 cm and 3.99 mm, respectively, and hay yield increasing by 48.5% compared with the control treatment. In contrast, the biochar combined with organic fertilizer (BC + OF) treatment significantly increased crude protein content (CP) and reduced acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents, indicating improved forage quality. Although the crude fat content was numerically higher under BC + OF, no significant differences were observed among treatments. Correlation analyses further revealed that changes in soil physicochemical properties were associated with variations in several dominant bacterial genera, which were correlated with oat agronomic traits and forage quality indicators. Overall, the combined application of biochar with fulvic acid or organic fertilizer improved saline-alkaline soil microbial characteristics and showed potential for enhancing forage oat yield and quality, with BC + FA primarily improving yield production and BC + OF mainly enhancing forage quality.
Teng Wang, Zhen Li, Shilan Shao et al.· Land· 0 citations
Introduction Long-term chemical fertilization degrades soil properties and reduces microbial diversity, posing a significant threat to sustainable crop production. Yellow cinnamon soil is widespread across China, yet its weak structure and lower fertility substantially constrain crop productivity. Methods To address this challenge, we conducted a long-term experiment on yellow cinnamon soil to evaluate the individual and synergistic effects of biochar and manure amendments on soil fertility, microbial communities and wheat yield. Six treatments were established, namely unfertilized control (CK), biochar alone (B), mineral fertilizer (NPK), biochar plus mineral fertilizer (NPKB), partial manure substitution for mineral N (NPKM), and combined biochar with partial manure substitution (NPKMB). Results Our results showed that organic amendments markedly improved soil fertility, crop productivity, and microbial community structure. NPKM significantly elevated nutrient contents, alleviated acidification induced by mineral fertilizers, and reduced soil bulk density, and ultimately raised wheat and maize yield by 6.68% and 9.12%, respectively. NPKMB amplified these benefits and raised wheat and maize yield by 85.56% and 67.64% over the CK treatment. With respect to microbial responses, exclusively mineral fertilization lowered microbial diversity and altered community composition, whereas adding biochar and manure restored microbial richness and diversity to levels comparable to those in unfertilized soil. Notably, the NPKMB treatment enriched potentially beneficial biomarkers, including Devosia, Porphyrobacter, Reyranella, Trechispora, and Pyrenochaetopsis. Discussion These taxa correlated positively with AK, AP, NH₄⁺-N, SOC, underscoring their potential roles in nutrient mobilization and plant growth promotion. Overall, NPKMB offers an effective sustainable strategy for managing yellow cinnamon soil. It improves soil physical and chemical quality, stimulates microbial activity, enriches beneficial taxa, and ultimately enhances wheat yield. These findings support optimized fertilization practices that enhance soil health and ecosystem function in yellow cinnamon soil regions.
Hui Li, Mengyuan Wang, Fei-Kong Song et al.· Frontiers in Plant Science· 0 citations
Biochar amendments can alter soil conditions and crop performance, but their effects may vary with feedstock type. This study evaluated wood-shaving, maize-straw, and charcoal biochars applied at 10 t/ha for their effects on selected soil physical and chemical properties and maize growth at Panderu. The experiment used a split-plot arrangement in a randomised complete block design with four treatments and three replications. Soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic carbon, texture, colour, and bulk density were assessed, while maize responses were evaluated using vegetative growth traits. Data were analysed by analysis of variance, least significant difference at the 5% significance level, and correlation analysis. Post-harvest soil pH ranged from 4.69 in the control to approximately 5.00 in the maize-straw treatment. Organic carbon ranged from 2.96% under wood shavings to 3.20% under maize straw, while CEC ranged from 0.41 to 0.82 cmol⁺ kg⁻¹, with maize straw recording the highest value. Maize growth responses were not uniformly greater under biochar. The control recorded the highest number of leaves (11.1), plant height (75.2 cm), and stem girth (5.87), whereas maize-straw biochar produced the greatest leaf area (199.99 cm²). Leaf dimensions did not differ significantly among treatments. Overall, the findings show feedstock-specific responses and indicate that maize-straw amendment produced the most favourable short-term changes in the measured soil chemical properties among the amendments tested.
O. S. Vonu, S. Swaray, G. A. Mokuwa et al.· International Journal of Pla...· 0 citations