Biochar Improves Soil Health for Cotton Production, Study Confirms

By Eric Stann

For generations, farmers have used natural materials such as lime, gypsum and manure to improve their soil for growing crops. Now, a team of researchers led by the University of Missouri is giving new purpose to an established material  biochar, a charcoal-like substance made from leftover plant waste  and showing how it can address challenges facing today’s cotton growers.

Even though biochar has been used in various forms of agriculture for thousands of years, this study focused on how it could help cotton farmers in the delta region of the United States, often called the Mississippi Delta.

That’s where biochar comes in.

The Mizzou researchers  led by Gurbir Singh, assistant professor of plant sciences at Mizzou’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, and MU Extension state specialist  turned to bagasse, a fibrous organic material left over after sugarcane is pressed for its juice. When converted into biochar and added to the soil, the product improved the soil’s ability to hold onto nutrients and moisture, giving cotton plants a better chance to grow strong and healthy.

“Cotton is typically grown in sandy and sandy loam soil that struggles with low organic matter, less water-holding capacity and weaker aggregate stability,” Singh said. “These soils don’t hold water or nutrients well, and require more irrigation, which makes it harder to manage cotton production. Biochar offers a solution to these specific challenges.”