Bellè, S-L and Riotte, J and Backhaus, N and Sekhar, M and Jouquet, P and Abiven, S (2022) Tailor-made biochar systems: Interdisciplinary evaluations of ecosystem services and farmer livelihoods in tropical agro-ecosystems. In: PLoS ONE, 17 (1).
|
PDF
PLoSONE_17-1_2022.pdf - Published Version Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Organic matter management is key to sustain ecosystem services provided by soils. However, it is rarely considered in a holistic view, considering local resources, agro-environmental effects and harmonization with farmers’ needs. Organic inputs, like compost and biochar, could represent a sustainable solution to massive current challenges associated to the intensification of agriculture, in particular for tropical regions. Here we assess the potential of agricultural residues as a resource for farmer communities in southwestern India to reduce their dependency on external inputs and sustain ecosystem services. We propose a novel joint evaluation of farmers’ aspirations together with agro-environmental effects of organic inputs on soils. Our soil quality evaluation showed that biochar alone or with compost did not improve unilaterally soils in the tropics (Anthroposol, Ferralsol and Vertisol). Many organic inputs led to an initial decrease in water-holding capacities of control soils (-27.3%: coconut shell biochar with compost on Anthroposol). Responses to organic matter inputs for carbon were strongest for Ferralsols (+33.4% with rice husk biochar), and mostly positive for Anthroposols and Vertisols (+12.5% to +13.8% respectively). Soil pH responses were surprisingly negative for Ferralsols and only positive if biochar was applied alone (between -5.6% to +1.9%). For Anthroposols and Vertisols, highest increases were achieved with rice husk biochar + vermicomposts (+7.2% and +5.2% respectively). Our socio-economic evaluation showed that farmers with a stronger economical position showed greater interest towards technology like biochar (factor 1.3 to 1.6 higher for farmers cultivating Anthroposols and/or Vertisols compared to Ferralsols), while poorer farmers more skepticism, which may lead to an increased economical gap within rural communities if technologies are not implemented with long-term guidance. These results advocate for an interdisciplinary evaluation of agricultural technology prior to its implementation as a development tool in the field.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Publication: | PLoS ONE |
| Publisher: | Public Library of Science |
| Additional Information: | The copyright for this article belongs to the Authors. |
| Keywords: | carbon; charcoal; organic matter; carbon; charcoal; fertilizer; nitrogen; organic compound; water, agricultural worker; agroecosystem; anthroposol; Article; coconut; compost; controlled study; ecosystem service; ferralsol; human; India; interdisciplinary research; nonhuman; nutshell (structure); rice husk; rural population; soil; soil acidity; soil quality; tropics; vertisol; water holding capacity; chemistry; ecosystem; pH; socioeconomics; statistical model; tropic climate, Carbon; Charcoal; Ecosystem; Farmers; Fertilizers; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Linear Models; Nitrogen; Organic Chemicals; Socioeconomic Factors; Soil; Tropical Climate; Water |
| Department/Centre: | Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences > Interdisciplinary Centre for Water Research |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Jul 2022 10:12 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Jul 2022 10:12 |
| URI: | https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/74339 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
