Farmers and the government have been struggling from long to curb the menace of stubble burning, which has now grown into a multifaceted problem
There were different approaches suggested to tackle the situation, but all seem to have failed to find a solution.
Scientists from Punjab Agriculture University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) now hold a ray of hope for everyone in the form of “Biochar“.
Biochar is granular material that is obtained when crop residue is heated at 400°C to 600°C in a kiln-shaped structure in the absence of oxygen. The output is then used as fertilizer to improve the water-holding capacity of agriculture land, and it improves soil health.
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Biomass contains many nutrients, such as carbon. The exposure to an extremely high temperature, carbon gets sequestered in ‘Biochar’, which gets transferred to soil.
This method is a 2,000-year-old practice that uses converted farm waste to enhance the soil, boost food security and increase soil biodiversity. The process creates a finely grained, highly porous charcoal retains soil’s nutrients and increases water holding capacity.
Biochar is a useful tool to increase food security in areas of severe soil depletion, scarce organic resources and lesser water and chemical fertilizer supplies.
It results in improved water quality and quantity as soil retention of nutrients and agrochemicals increase, and plants and crops use it.
The initial project in Punjab may cost Rs 400-500 crore. The Centre during the last financial year disbursed Rs 300 crore for in-situ management of Stubble burning in the country.
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Other economically viable technologies are also being looked. Biochar is one of them. An extensive research system is needed to take the technology and the awareness of the same to farmers.
IFFCO continuously aims to empower the farmers and the agriculture base of our country by getting involved in research and development of products that can be beneficial for the farmers.
In a recent event, IFFCO had announced the introduction of its Nano- Technology based product range by introducing Nano Nitrogen, Nano Zinc, Nano Copper for on-field trials.
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These products have been indigenously researched and developed at the IFFCO Nano Biotechnology Research Centre (NBRC), the advanced Research and Development Centre based at Kalol Unit (Gujarat). These nanostructured formulations, namely, IFFCO NANO NITROGEN, IFFCO NANO ZINC and IFFCO NANO COPPER effectively deliver nutrients to the plants.
