Study Shows Biochar Improves Soil Health for Cotton Production

A study by researchers at the University of Missouri found that adding biochar to the soil benefited cotton production. In research conducted in Mississippi, scientists added biochar made from sugarcane bagasse to sandy soil where cotton was planted. They found that the biochar improved the soil’s ability to hold onto nutrients and moisture, giving cotton plants a better chance to grow strong and healthy. Researchers also found one unexpected benefit of using biochar: It can help improve water quality by keeping nitrate-nitrogen — a common fertilizer ingredient — from seeping into groundwater. The research team plans to expand their research beyond test plots to the farm scale and to other crops beside cotton.
Related ATTRA topic area: Biochar