Nagaland University-led international study promotes biochar as a low-cost, nature-based solution to improve water retention, soil health, and climate resilience in hilly Northeast India agriculture.
A Nagaland University-led international study has put the spotlight on biochar, a carbon-rich material produced by heating crop residues and organic biomass under low-oxygen conditions, as a practical and affordable solution to address water scarcity and soil degradation in the hilly regions of Nagaland. The study highlights how converting agricultural waste into biochar can improve soil moisture retention, enhance crop productivity, and support sustainable farming systems suited to the unique challenges of Northeast India's mountainous terrain.
Nagaland's steep and rugged terrain presents serious agricultural challenges that conventional farming methods struggle to address. Farmers cultivating on slopes face rapid rainwater runoff, which carries away nutrient-rich topsoil and leaves fields vulnerable during dry spells. At the same time, irregular rainfall and rising temperatures have intensified water shortages and soil degradation, further diminishing farm productivity across the region.
These compounding pressures have created an urgent demand for nature-based, low-cost interventions that can be adopted by small and marginal farmers without reliance on expensive infrastructure. The research identifies biochar as precisely this kind of solution, one rooted in locally available resources and adaptable to the specific conditions of hilly, terraced farming systems.
The study, published in Discover Soil, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal under Springer Nature, demonstrates that biochar functions like a sponge in the soil, dramatically improving its capacity to absorb and retain water. This reduces the need for frequent irrigation while simultaneously enhancing soil fertility. By slowing water runoff and binding nutrients within the soil structure, biochar also helps reduce soil erosion, making it especially well-suited for steep and terraced farmlands.
Unlike chemical fertilizers or costly irrigation systems, biochar offers a circular economy approach: agricultural residues that farmers would otherwise burn in the open are instead converted into a valuable soil input. This reduces dependence on chemical inputs, increases crop yields, and contributes to long-term carbon storage within the soil — a meaningful co-benefit for climate change mitigation.
"This research reflects Nagaland University's commitment on developing practical, locally relevant solutions for the unique challenges of hill agriculture of surrounding environments. Converting farm waste into biochar not only helps conserve water and improve soil health, but also empowers our farmers with a sustainable and low-cost technology for climate-resilient livelihoods in Northeast India." — Prof. Jagadish K Patnaik, Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University
The study was conducted by an international team of researchers from Nagaland University, the University of Johannesburg (South Africa), Amity University (Uttar Pradesh), and Parul University (Gujarat). The research team — led by Prof. Prabhakar Sharma of the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Technology at Nagaland University, alongside Dr. Shakir Ali, Dr. Anamika Shrivastava, and Dr. Krishna Kumar Yadav — focused on evaluating biochar application specifically within agricultural fields characteristic of hilly regions.
The research examined suitable locally available biomass for biochar production, optimal application rates for hill farming systems, long-term impacts on crop yield and soil health, and the economic benefits that biochar adoption could deliver to small and marginal farmers.
"Most of the existing studies utilize biochar in general agricultural settings, however, our work connects water conservation, soil restoration and climate resilience for hill farming systems, where rapid runoff, moisture loss and soil degradation are major challenges. The study also emphasizes the use of locally available biomass resources for an affordable, scalable and relevant approach for farmers in Northeast India." — Prof. Prabhakar Sharma, Department of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Nagaland University
The research findings carry significant relevance beyond Nagaland's borders, with implications for addressing groundwater depletion, drought stress, and declining soil quality across India. By helping crops survive dry spells and improving long-term soil health, biochar adoption could enhance farmer income and reduce the environmental damage caused by the open burning of agricultural residues — a widespread practice with serious air quality consequences.
Looking ahead, the research team plans to advance the work through pilot demonstrations on university farms, village clusters, terrace fields, and horticultural plantations. Farmer training programmes and collaborations with government agencies are also envisaged to support wider adoption of biochar-based agricultural practices across the region.
The study, available at Discover Soil (Springer Nature), underscores the potential of biochar as a dual-purpose solution — one that simultaneously improves agricultural productivity and contributes to environmental conservation by restoring degraded soils, reducing biomass burning, and strengthening carbon storage in ecologically sensitive hill regions.
