Straw-based Biochar Boosts Crop Yield Under Limited Water

An international team of researchers published an article in the journal Biochar on the results of a project that tested the crop-yield effects of biochar made from different parent materials. They found that a single application biochar made from wheat straw improved the yield of a corn crop for at least two seasons, even when they reduced irrigation to the crop. By contrast, applying softwood biochar resulted in reduced yield for the first year, though the effect declined in succeeding seasons as the soil microbial community adapted. “Our results show that one-time applications of straw-derived biochar can deliver multi-year benefits when combined with precision irrigation,” said lead author Heng Wan. “This approach helps maintain soil fertility and crop productivity while reducing water and fertilizer use.”

Related ATTRA topic area: Biochar