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Practicality of Biochar Additions to Enhance Soil and Crop Productivity

Author

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  • David M. Filiberto

    (Employment and Disability Institute, ILR School, Cornell University, 306 Dolgen Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA)

  • John L. Gaunt

    (Carbon Consulting LLC, 304 The Parkway, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA)

Abstract

The benefits of biochar to soils for agricultural purposes are numerous. Biochar may be added to soils with the intention to improve the soil, displace an amount of conventional fossil fuel based fertilizers, and sequester carbon. However, the variable application rates, uncertain feedstock effects, and initial soil state provide a wide range of cost for marginally improved yield from biochar additions, which is often economically impracticable. The need for further clarity on optimizing biochar application to various crop yields is necessary if it is to gain widespread acceptance as a soil amendment.

Suggested Citation

  • David M. Filiberto & John L. Gaunt, 2013. "Practicality of Biochar Additions to Enhance Soil and Crop Productivity," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-11, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:3:y:2013:i:4:p:715-725:d:29638
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Abishkar Regmi & Shital Poudyal & Sukhbir Singh & Cade Coldren & Naima Moustaid-Moussa & Catherine Simpson, 2023. "Biochar Influences Phytochemical Concentrations of Viola cornuta Flowers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Muhammad Ayaz & Dalia Feizienė & Vita Tilvikienė & Kashif Akhtar & Urte Stulpinaitė & Rashid Iqbal, 2021. "Biochar Role in the Sustainability of Agriculture and Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-22, January.
    4. José Romualdo de Sousa Lima & Maria da Conceição Cavalcanti de Goes & Claude Hammecker & Antonio Celso Dantas Antonino & Érika Valente de Medeiros & Everardo Valadares de Sá Barretto Sampaio & Maria C, 2021. "Effects of Poultry Manure and Biochar on Acrisol Soil Properties and Yield of Common Bean. A Short-Term Field Experiment," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-11, March.
    5. Roberto Volpe & Simona Messineo & Maurizio Volpe & Antonio Messineo, 2015. "Carbon Footprint of Tree Nuts Based Consumer Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-18, November.
    6. Dafeng Hui & Chih-Li Yu & Qi Deng & Priya Saini & Kenya Collins & Jason De Koff, 2018. "Weak Effects of Biochar and Nitrogen Fertilization on Switchgrass Photosynthesis, Biomass, and Soil Respiration," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-12, September.
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    8. Juan Luis Aguirre & Sergio González-Egido & María González-Lucas & Francisco Miguel González-Pernas, 2023. "Medium-Term Effects and Economic Analysis of Biochar Application in Three Mediterranean Crops," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-18, May.
    9. Vasilii Erokhin & Li Diao & Tianming Gao & Jean-Vasile Andrei & Anna Ivolga & Yuhang Zong, 2021. "The Supply of Calories, Proteins, and Fats in Low-Income Countries: A Four-Decade Retrospective Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-30, July.
    10. JoungDu Shin & Eunjung Choi & EunSuk Jang & Seung Gil Hong & SangRyong Lee & Balasubramani Ravindran, 2018. "Adsorption Characteristics of Ammonium Nitrogen and Plant Responses to Biochar Pellet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-1, April.
    11. Wioletta Żukiewicz-Sobczak & Agnieszka Latawiec & Paweł Sobczak & Bernardo Strassburg & Dorota Plewik & Małgorzata Tokarska-Rodak, 2020. "Biochars Originating from Different Biomass and Pyrolysis Process Reveal to Have Different Microbial Characterization: Implications for Practice," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-13, February.

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