Author – Ritesh Ranjan: Hill farming in Northeast India has always required resilience. In states like Nagaland, farmers cultivate crops across steep slopes, terraced fields and rain-fed landscapes where soil and water are constantly under pressure. Heavy rainfall can wash away fertile topsoil, while long dry spells leave fields short of moisture. As climate change makes rainfall more irregular and temperatures rise, these challenges are becoming even more serious for small and marginal farmers.
A new international study led by Nagaland University has brought attention to a practical, low-cost and climate-resilient solution: biochar. The research suggests that converting agricultural waste into biochar can help improve soil moisture retention, reduce erosion, enhance fertility and support more sustainable hill agriculture in Nagaland and other parts of Northeast India.
The study was undertaken by Prof. Prabhakar Sharma of Nagaland University, along with Dr. Shakir Ali from the University of Johannesburg, Dr. Anamika Shrivastava from Amity University and Dr. Krishna Kumar Yadav from Parul University. The findings were published in Discover Soil, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal from Springer Nature focused on soil science.
What Is Biochar?
Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced by heating crop residues, plant waste and other organic biomass in low-oxygen conditions. This process converts agricultural waste into a stable soil amendment that can remain in the soil for a long time.
In simple terms, biochar works like a sponge. When added to soil, it helps hold water for longer periods, reduces runoff and creates a better environment for plant roots. It also improves soil structure and supports the activity of beneficial microorganisms.
For hill agriculture, these qualities are highly valuable. In steep and rain-fed farming systems, water often flows away before crops can fully benefit from it. Biochar helps slow this loss by improving the soil’s ability to absorb and retain moisture.
Why Hill Agriculture in Nagaland Needs Support
Nagaland’s mountainous terrain creates unique agricultural challenges. Many farmers cultivate crops on slopes or terraced lands, where soil erosion and water loss are common. During heavy rainfall, water rushes downhill, carrying away topsoil and nutrients. During dry periods, the same fields may struggle to retain enough moisture for healthy crop growth.
This cycle affects productivity and income. Poor soil moisture can reduce germination, weaken root development and lower yields. Soil erosion also damages long-term fertility, making land less productive over time.
Traditional water conservation methods often require costly infrastructure such as irrigation channels, storage systems or engineered slope protection. For remote hill regions, these solutions may not always be affordable or practical. Biochar offers a more accessible alternative because it can be made from locally available agricultural residues and organic waste.
How Biochar Helps Farmers
The Nagaland University-led study highlights several important benefits of biochar for hill farming systems.
One of the most significant advantages is improved soil moisture retention. Biochar’s porous structure allows it to absorb and hold water, making moisture available to crops for a longer duration. This can be especially useful during dry spells, when rain-fed crops are most vulnerable.
Biochar can also help reduce irrigation needs. In areas where water access is limited, even a small improvement in soil water retention can make a meaningful difference. Farmers may be able to maintain crop growth with less frequent watering.
Another major benefit is soil erosion control. By improving soil structure, biochar helps bind soil particles and reduce runoff. This is important in Nagaland’s steep landscapes, where erosion is one of the biggest threats to sustainable agriculture.
Biochar also supports soil fertility. It can improve nutrient retention, reduce nutrient leaching and create a better environment for soil microbes. Over time, this can help farmers reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers while maintaining or improving productivity.
A Climate-Resilient Farming Solution
The study places biochar within the broader context of climate-resilient agriculture. As rainfall patterns become less predictable, farmers need solutions that help crops survive both excess water and dry periods. Biochar addresses both concerns by reducing runoff during rainfall and conserving moisture during dry spells.
It also contributes to climate mitigation. Because biochar stores carbon in a stable form, it can support long-term carbon storage in soil. This means it has potential benefits not only for crop productivity but also for environmental conservation.
By turning agricultural residues into biochar, farmers can also reduce open burning of farm waste. Open burning contributes to air pollution and releases carbon into the atmosphere. Biochar production provides a cleaner and more productive use of this waste.
A Circular Economy Approach
One of the strongest aspects of biochar is its connection to the circular economy. Instead of treating crop residues and organic waste as a problem, biochar turns them into a resource.
Farmers can use locally available biomass such as crop residues, plant waste and other organic materials to create a soil amendment that improves their land. This reduces waste, supports soil health and lowers dependence on external inputs.
For small and marginal farmers, affordability is crucial. Expensive farming technologies often remain out of reach. Biochar, however, has the potential to be produced locally and applied using simple methods, making it more practical for rural and remote communities.
What Makes This Study Important?
According to the research team, the study is different from many existing studies because it directly connects water conservation, soil restoration and climate resilience in hill farming systems. Rather than looking at biochar only as a soil additive, the study examines its wider role in improving farming sustainability.
Prof. Prabhakar Sharma noted that the team aimed to identify locally available biomass for biochar production and test its performance in steep and terraced farming systems. The research also looks at optimal application rates, long-term soil health impacts and economic benefits for small and marginal farmers.
This local focus is important. Technologies developed for flat agricultural plains may not work effectively in hilly regions. Nagaland and other parts of Northeast India require solutions suited to their terrain, climate and farming practices. Biochar fits this requirement because it can be adapted to local biomass sources and farming systems.
Support from Nagaland University
Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik, Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University, said the research reflects the university’s commitment to practical and locally relevant solutions for hill agriculture. He highlighted biochar’s potential to conserve water, improve soil health and empower farmers with a sustainable, low-cost technology for climate-resilient livelihoods.
This institutional support is significant because successful agricultural innovations need more than laboratory research. They require field demonstrations, farmer training, government collaboration and long-term monitoring.
Next Steps for Biochar Adoption
The research team plans to move ahead with pilot demonstrations in university farms, village clusters, terrace fields and horticultural plantations. These pilots will help test how biochar performs under real farming conditions.
Future work will also include farmer training programmes and collaboration with government agencies. This is an important step because many farmers may not be familiar with biochar production, application methods or ideal usage rates.
If the pilot projects are successful, biochar could become a valuable tool for farmers facing water stress, poor soils and climate uncertainty. It could support better yields, healthier soils and more sustainable farming systems across Nagaland and other hill regions of Northeast India.
Conclusion
The Nagaland University-led study presents biochar as more than just a soil amendment. It is a practical, low-cost and climate-resilient solution for some of the most pressing challenges in hill agriculture.
By improving soil moisture, reducing erosion, supporting fertility and turning farm waste into a useful resource, biochar can help farmers build stronger and more sustainable livelihoods. For Nagaland’s fragile hill landscapes, this approach offers a promising path toward healthier soils, better harvests and a more climate-ready agricultural future.
As climate pressures increase, solutions like biochar show that innovation does not always need to be expensive or complex. Sometimes, the answer lies in transforming what is already available—farm waste—into something that can restore the land and support the farmers who depend on it.
FAQs
1. What is biochar and how is it made?
Biochar is a carbon-rich material made by heating crop residues, plant waste or organic biomass in low-oxygen conditions. It is used as a soil amendment to improve water retention, fertility and soil structure.
2. How can biochar help hill farmers in Nagaland?
Biochar can help hill farmers by retaining soil moisture, reducing runoff, controlling erosion and improving soil fertility. These benefits are especially useful in steep, rain-fed farming systems.
3. Why is biochar considered a climate-resilient farming solution?
Biochar helps crops survive dry spells by holding water in the soil. It also reduces soil degradation, supports long-term carbon storage and lowers dependence on chemical fertilizers, making farming systems more resilient to climate change.
4. Can biochar reduce the use of chemical fertilizers?
Yes, biochar can improve nutrient retention and soil health, which may reduce farmers’ dependence on chemical fertilizers over time. However, proper application rates and local field testing are important.
5. What are the next steps for biochar research in Nagaland?
The research team plans to conduct pilot demonstrations in university farms, village clusters, terrace fields and horticultural plantations. Farmer training and collaboration with government agencies are also expected to support wider adoption.