1.2 Detalles de contacto de las personas de referencia e instituciones involucradas en la evaluación y la documentación de la Tecnología

Nombre del proyecto que financió la documentación/ evaluación de la Tecnología (si fuera relevante)

Soil protection and rehabilitation for food security (ProSo(i)l)

Nombre de la(s) institución(es) que facilitaron la documentación/ evaluación de la Tecnología (si fuera relevante)

GIZ India (GIZ India) - India

Nombre de la(s) institución(es) que facilitaron la documentación/ evaluación de la Tecnología (si fuera relevante)

Alliance Bioversity and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT) - Kenia

Nombre de la(s) institución(es) que facilitaron la documentación/ evaluación de la Tecnología (si fuera relevante)

Ecociate Consultants (Ecociate Consultants) - India

1.3 Condiciones referidas al uso de datos documentados mediante WOCAT

El compilador y la/s persona(s) de referencia claves aceptan las condiciones acerca del uso de los datos documentados mediante WOCAT:

Sí

1.4 Declaración de la sostenibilidad de la Tecnología descrita

¿La Tecnología aquí descrita resulta problemática en relación a la degradación de la tierra, de tal forma que no puede considerársela una tecnología sostenible para el manejo de la tierra?

No

Comentarios:

The technology described here is the application of biochar on homestead land. This technology positively impacts soil health and crop production.

2.1 Breve descripción de la Tecnología

Definición de la Tecnología:

Biochar is a carbon-rich solid formed from the organic residue by pyrolysis. Biochar is a stable, highly water and nutrient-retentive product that benefits microorganisms and has a very high carbon sequestration potential. Farmers in the project area have applied it to their homesteads or kitchen gardens.

2.2 Descripción detallada de la Tecnología

Descripción:

Biochar, a sustainable soil amendment, is produced through pyrolysis, where organic matter such as wood or agricultural waste is heated in a closed container under low-oxygen conditions. Applying biochar to soil has numerous benefits for improving soil health, such as enhancing soil fertility, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving soil microbiology, and reducing soil erosion. One of the most significant benefits of biochar is its ability to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide into the soil, which can help mitigate climate change by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Biochar can also remove contaminants from soil and water and serve as a compost component.

Biochar also reduces the emission of ammonia and carbon dioxide (Cabeza et al. 2018), lowers soil compactness, optimizes compost (Liang et al. 2010), improves water retention and the sorption of heavy metals, increases the availability of micronutrients for plants and increases the pH of soils (Van Zwieten et al. 2010). Biochar also stimulates the growth of rhizosphere microorganisms and mycorrhizal fungi (Głuszek et al. 2017). These bacteria and fungi may also promote plant growth (Compant et al. 2010). The pH values of biochars are positively correlated with the formation of carbonates and the contents of inorganic alkalis (Ding et al. 2014). The pH value of biochar ranges from 6.5 to 10.8. It is advisable to test the pH values of both soils and biochar to reach at the optimal quantity of biochar to be applied in the field.

In the Mandla district, agriculture is the backbone of the economy, and farmers are constantly adopting new farming technologies to increase their agricultural production. One such technology that has positively impacted more than a thousand farmers in the region is the application of biochar in homestead land under a GIZ-funded Soil protection and rehabilitation of degraded soil for food security in India (ProSoil) program. Biochar in this region is prepared using low cost Biochar Kiln units developed by Indian council of agriculture research institutions, traditional methods, such as digging soil pits and burning organic residue while covering its top with soil. Since the Mandla district is a high-rainfall region, most farmers broadcast biochar over their fields before growing rabi (winter) crops. Commonly grown rabi crops in this region are mustard, vegetables, and maize.

Farmers in the Mandla district use small units of biochar production. The recovery rate of biochar is 20%, with a capacity of 100kg of organic material. The application rate per unit area varies from farmer to farmer.
1. Landholding: Farmers with more extensive land holdings or generally rotationally applied biochar in the parcels.
2. The intervention of biochar application was introduced in this region in 2020. The new practice is evolving, and the application rate of biochar varies from farmer to farmer depending on the availability of raw materials and labour availability (family/hired)

The most suitable biochar application rate is 10 − 20 t/ha. Moreover, it is essential to consider the compatibility and complementarity between biochar, soil texture, and management factors such as Nitrogen (N) application rate, pH values and growing environment into consideration (Yang Gao et al., 2021). More scientific studies are needed to define the quantity of biochar needed based on the local soil conditions. However, the current quantity of applications is very low compared to suggested in secondary documents.

The immediate effects of biochar application on crop production have been significant, with farmers reporting an increase in crop yield by 20-25% across most crops. Simple indicators such as increased grain weight and improved grain quality imply that the crop produced is of higher quality. Another critical benefit highlighted by farmers of biochar application is the retention of soil moisture over a longer duration compared to non-treated fields. Biochar can help the farmers of the Mandla district increase their agricultural productivity while promoting sustainable land use practices.

2.3 Fotografías de la Tecnología

2.5 País/ región/ lugares donde la Tecnología fue aplicada y que se hallan comprendidos por esta evaluación

2.6 Fecha de la implementación

Indique año de implementación:

2020

2.7 Introducción de la Tecnología

Especifique cómo se introdujo la Tecnología:

• durante experimentos/ investigación
• mediante proyectos/ intervenciones externas

Comentarios (tipo de proyecto, etc.):

The application of biochar for improving soil health and crop production was introduced in this region through the GIZ-funded program

3.1 Propósito(s) principal(es) de la Tecnología MST

• mejorar la producción
• reducir, prevenir, restaurar la degradación del suelo
• conservar el ecosistema
• mitigar cambio climático y sus impactos
• crear impacto económico benéfico

3.2 Tipo(s) actuales de uso de la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología

Mezcla de tipos de uso de tierras dentro de la misma unidad de tierras: :

Sí

Especifique el uso combinado de tierras (cultivos/ pastoreo/ árboles):

• Agroforestería

Comentarios:

As per the district census handbook of Mandla District 2001, the land use pattern of Mandla District is: 61% - under forest area, 21% - cropped area, 5% - not available for cultivation, 7% - under fallow land, and 2% - cultivable area. The net area irrigated is 7% of the net area sown, which has hardly increased in recent times (~9%).

3.3 ¿Cambió el uso de tierras debido a la implementación de la Tecnología?

¿Cambió el uso de tierras debido a la implementación de la Tecnología?

• No (Continúe con la pregunta 3.4)

Comentarios:

There has been no change in land use pattern due to project interventions.

3.4 Provisión de agua

Provisión de agua para la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología:

• mixta de secano – irrigada

Comentarios:

Mandla has nearly 9% of its net sown area irrigated. The homestead land, where biochar is applied during the rabi season, has some irrigation from surface- or groundwater sources.

3.5 Grupo MST al que pertenece la Tecnología

• agroforestería
• cobertura de suelo/ vegetal mejorada
• manejo integrado de la fertilidad del suelo

3.6 Medidas MST que componen la Tecnología

Comentarios:

The application of biochar in the field has improved the water-holding capacity of the soil along with enhanced microbial activities. This has resulted in better and long-duration vegetation as farmers are in position to cultivate vegetables throughout the year.

3.7 Principales tipos de degradación del suelo encarados con la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Biochar acts as soil amendment which helps in improving soil health and status of nutrients in the soil. Some studies have also suggested increase in soil organic carbon as a result of biochar application. Farmers in the project area were also advised to reduce the tillage practices to minimise the soil disturbance.

3.8 Prevención, reducción o restauración de la degradación del suelo

Especifique la meta de la Tecnología con relación a la degradación de la tierra:

• prevenir la degradación del suelo
• reducir la degradación del suelo

Comentarios:

Prior to the application of biochar, farmers were applying synthetic fertilisers and pesticide which was degrading the land. The replacement of synthetic fertilisers with Biochar (also FYM and cow urine mixed with it) has prevented further soil degradation.

4.1 Dibujo técnico de la Tecnología

4.2 Información general sobre el cálculo de insumos y costos

Especifique cómo se calcularon los costos e insumos:

• por área de Tecnología

otra / moneda nacional (especifique):

INR

Si fuera relevante, indique la tasa de cambio de dólares americanos a la moneda local (ej. 1 U$ = 79.9 Reales Brasileros): 1 U$ =:

82,5

4.3 Actividades de establecimiento

	Actividad	Momento (estación)
1.	Purchase of Biochar Kiln Unit	Once in 4-5 years

Comentarios:

Since it's a seasonal activity there are not many activities which can be categorised here.

4.4 Costos e insumos necesarios para el establecimiento

	Especifique insumo	Unidad	Cantidad	Costos por unidad	Costos totales por insumo	% de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras
Equipo	Biochar Kiln unit	Number	1,0	9000,0	9000,0	10,0
Equipo	Transportation	LS	1,0	2000,0	2000,0	10,0
Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología					11000,0
Costos totales para establecer la Tecnología en USD					133,33

Si el usuario de la tierra no cubrió el 100% de los costos, indique quién financió el resto del costo:

Project has financially supported the local environment committes in purchase and setting up of the Biochar Kiln units

Comentarios:

Biochar is prepared by a low-cost method:
1. Using Soil pit kiln - Human Labor cost is usually applied as no capital cost is involved in this method.
2. Using Portable Kiln - Its cost generally range from 12000 -14000 Rs if purchased from the ICAR institutions and their associated fabricators. Sometimes farmers also get it made from the local fabricators which cost Rs 4000-6000

Refer to the following Study: Biochar production from Lantana camara (invasive species);-

https://qcat.wocat.net/en/wocat/technologies/view/technologies_6690/

4.5 Actividades de establecimiento/ recurrentes

	Actividad	Momento/ frequencia
1.	Preparation of Biochar using the Lantana Camara	After the monsoon season (September)
2.	Preparing the biochar for application by mixing it with cow dung and cow urine	During Rabi Season (Oct-Nov)
3.	Application of Biochar in homestead land	During Rabi Season (Oct-Nov)

Comentarios:

A low-cost method of biochar preparation (traditional soil pit or portable kiln method) is used for biochar preparation. Due to simplicity in design, barely any cost is involved in the maintenance of the unit.

4.6 Costos e insumos necesarios para actividades de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (por año)

	Especifique insumo	Unidad	Cantidad	Costos por unidad	Costos totales por insumo	% de los costos cubiertos por los usuarios de las tierras
Mano de obra	Transportation of biomass and its drying before biochar production	Person-day	2,0	200,0	400,0	100,0
Mano de obra	Preparation of Biochar by family members	Person-day	2,0	200,0	400,0	100,0
Mano de obra	Mixing biochar with cow dung and cow urine and making it ready for the application	Person-day	1,0	200,0	200,0	100,0
Mano de obra	Biochar Application	Person-day	1,0	200,0	200,0	100,0
Fertilizantes y biocidas	Biomass for Biochar production (Approximate)		1,0	500,0	500,0	100,0
Fertilizantes y biocidas	Cow dung	kg	20,0	5,0	100,0	100,0
Fertilizantes y biocidas	Cow urine	kg	20,0	5,0	100,0	100,0
Indique los costos totales para mantenecer la Tecnología					1900,0
Costos totales para mantener la Tecnología en USD					23,03

Comentarios:

A majority of the cost mentioned here is an opportunity cost for the farmers as they do manage all these expenses internally with available family labour and input materials such as cow dung, cow urine biomass etc.

4.7 Factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Describa los factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

The primary factor affecting the cost is the labor cost for applying biochar to the field and the easy availability of biomass/crop residues/Lantana for biochar production

5.1 Clima

5.2 Topografía

Indique si la Tecnología se aplica específicamente en:

• no relevante

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre topografía :

Mandla District is hilly and forested (Satpura hill range) and highly undulating with a narrow strip of cultivated plains in the valley portion of the river and rivulet. The plateau is in the northern part, formed by basalt and east-west trending hills in the southern part. The highest elevation is 934m ASL in the northern region, and the lowest elevation is around 400m ASL.

5.3 Suelos

Si se halla disponible, adjunte una descripción completa de los suelos o especifique la información disponible, por ej., tipo de suelo, pH/ acidez de suelo, capacidad de intercambio catiónico, nitrógeno, salinidad, etc. :

The soils in the area are generally clayey loam types with sandy loam soil in some areas. In the northern and central parts of the District, the undulating plateau with mounds is covered with slightly deep soil. Regarding the classification of ‘Soils of the World,’ the soils of Mandla are characterized as ‘brown earth.’ These types of soils have developed from granite gneiss and quartzite schist complexes.

5.4 Disponibilidad y calidad de agua

¿La salinidad del agua es un problema?

No

¿Se está llevando a cabo la inundación del área? :

No

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre calidad y cantidad de agua:

The pre-monsoon groundwater level in the area ranges from 3 to 14 meters below ground level. (District at Glance, Mandla, Central Ground Water Board, 2013). The locations have a river flowing close to the area; however, access to the surface and sub-surface water is a primary concern. Basaltic lava flows of the Deccan trap underlie the Mandla District. All blocks of the district including project block Bichhiya are categorized as safe blocks. The net groundwater availability in the district is 53779 hectare meters (ham), and the groundwater draft for all uses is 8205 ham, making the Stage of Groundwater Development 15% as a whole for the district. The area's topography, soil, and geology do not let water remain for long durations, causing water scarcity in summer. The irrigation facilities are poor and limited to areas adjoining dams and canals.

5.5 Biodiversidad

Comentarios y especificaciones adicionales sobre biodiversidad:

The area is surrounded by the Kanha National Park and Phen Wildlife Sanctuary, with a good presence of forest area. Thus biodiversity is outstanding. Ecological assessment report in Mandla (where this Technology is applied) showed improved biodiversity on common lands under village governance compared to open-access or commons under government ownership. On average, the Shannon diversity index (https://www.statology.org/shannon-diversity-index/) of managed common lands was 1.45 compared to 0.42 for the open access or ungoverned commons. Most of the sites under open access lands are infested by Lantana camara, which is the main reason for the lower biomass and diversity of the ungoverned grounds. More information about the biodiversity in Mandla can be read through the following link.

https://mpsbb.mp.gov.in/completedProject/MB.pdf

5.6 Las características de los usuarios de la tierra que aplican la Tecnología

Indique otras características relevantes de los usuarios de las tierras:

A large majority of the user belonging to the tribal community, including some households from an ethnic community called Baiga.

5.7 Área promedio de la tierra usada por usuarios de tierra que aplican la Tecnología

5.8 Tenencia de tierra, uso de tierra y derechos de uso de agua

Tenencia de tierra:

• comunitaria/ aldea
• individual, con título

Derechos de uso de tierra:

• individual

Derechos de uso de agua:

• comunitarios (organizado)
• individual

¿Los derechos del uso de la tierra se basan en un sistema legal tradicional?

Sí

Especifique:

The concerned authorities have issued landowners the land certificates.

5.9 Acceso a servicios e infraestructura

Comentarios:

Over the years, there has been a development focus from both the Government and other civil society organizations to bring out the facilities at the door of communities, which has improved access of different facilities.

6.1 Impactos in situ demostrados por la Tecnología

Impactos socioeconómicos

Producción

Ingreso y costos

Impactos socioculturales

Impactos ecológicos

Suelo

Biodiversidad: vegetación, animales

Reducción de riesgos de desastres y riesgos climáticos

Especifique la evaluación de los impactos en el sitio (mediciones):

All the indicated impact measures are based on discussions with farmers, implementing agencies and other stakeholders. These were reported as per their observations, eye estimations and approximation.

6.2 Impactos fuera del sitio demostrados por la Tecnología

Especifique la evaluación de los impactos fuera del emplazamiento (medidas):

The scale of implementation is not large enough to have an ecosystem level impact

6.3 Exposición y sensibilidad de la Tecnología al cambio climático gradual y a extremos relacionados al clima/ desastres (desde la percepción de los usuarios de tierras)

Cambio climático gradual

Cambio climático gradual

	Estación	Incremento o reducción	¿Cómo es que la tecnología soporta esto?
Otro cambio climático gradual	When biochar is added to soil, it can sequester carbon in the form of stable organic matter, which can remain in the soil for hundreds or even thousands of years. This carbon sequestration can help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, thereby mitigating climate change.	disminuyó	bien

6.4 Análisis costo-beneficio

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de establecimiento (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

Comentarios:

The benefits as indicated above are much higher than the cost involved. More importantly cost is too less as all the resources are being managed internally by the farmers.

6.5 Adopción de la Tecnología

• 1-10%

Si tiene la información disponible, cuantifique (número de hogares y/o área cubierta):

More than 3000 farmers

6.7 Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades de la Tecnología

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra
Increase crop production
Improve the quality of farm produce
Improve soil water holding capacity

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave
Improved soil health
Mitigate climate change
Increase in soil nutrient content
Reduction in cost of inputs

6.8 Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos de la Tecnología y formas de sobreponerse a ellos

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Manual labor is required for the preparation of biochar	Innovating/adopting automation in biochar preparation
Decentralized preparation of biochar	Developing enterprise for selling cost-effective biochar in a localized manner

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Limited understanding of standardization of biochar quality and rate of application	Conducting more research studies and documenting experiences of farmers

7.1 Métodos/ fuentes de información

7.2 Vínculos a las publicaciones disponibles

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Significance of biochar application to the environment and economy, Babalola Aisosa Onia,⁎, Olubukola Oziegbeb, Obembe O. Olawole

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aoas.2019.12.006

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Impacts of biochar application on upland agriculture: A review, Kumuduni Niroshika Palansooriyaa,1, Yong Sik Oka,1, Yasser Mahmoud Awada, Sang Soo Leeb, Jwa-Kyung Sungc, Agamemnon Koutsospyrosd, Deok Hyun Moone

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.12.085

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

The role of biochar and biochar-compost in improving soil quality and crop performance: A review, Getachew Agegnehua,⁎, A.K. Srivastavab, Michael I. Birda

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.06.008

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Biochar physicochemical properties: pyrolysis temperature and feedstock kind effects

¿Dónde se halla disponible? ¿Costo?

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11157-020-09523-3

7.3 Vínculos a la información relevante disponible en línea

Título/ descripción:

District at glance - Mandla

URL:

http://cgwb.gov.in/District_Profile/MP/Mandla.pdf

Título/ descripción:

District Census Handbook Mandla

URL:

http://lsi.gov.in:8081/jspui/bitstream/123456789/2097/1/38136_2001_MAN.pdf