Is biochar a promising soil amendment to enhance perennial crop yield and soil quality in the tropics?

Abstract

Soil quality improvement is crucial in tropical soils to enhance crop productivity. Organic matter incorporation is not a viable approach regarding perennials as it completely degrades within a year. Hence, biochar is a sustainable solution to boost crop productivity in the tropics. Biochar has been utilized in agriculture for decades due to its inherent properties that enhance the soil-mediated properties associated with soil fertility. The impact of biochar on tropical perennial intensive cropping systems has been understudied, possibly because of the high initial input demand. This paper highlights the facts related to soil chemical, physical, and biological property enhancement upon biochar incorporation relating to long-term impacts on perennial crops.

Keywords

• biochar
• crop yield
• perennial crop
• soil quality
• tropical