A Nagaland University–led international study is mooting the use of ‘Biochar’ as a practical and affordable solution to address water scarcity and soil degradation in the hilly regions of Nagaland. Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced by heating crop residues and organic biomass in low-oxygen conditions.

The findings highlight how converting agricultural waste into Biochar can help improve soil moisture, enhance crop productivity and support sustainable farming systems.

Nagaland’s mountainous terrain presents significant agricultural challenges. Farmers often cultivate on slopes where rainwater quickly runs off, leading to loss of nutrient-rich topsoil. At the same time, dry periods result in water shortages. Rising temperatures, irregular rainfall and increasing soil degradation further affect farm productivity. This is creating an urgent need for climate-resilient solutions.

The study, which involved researchers from University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh and Parul University, Gujarat besides Nagaland University, focuses on biochar application in agricultural field. The study demonstrates that biochar can act like a sponge in the soil, improving water retention, reducing irrigation needs and enhancing soil fertility. It also helps reduce soil erosion, making it particularly suitable for hill farming systems.

The study highlights that unlike conventional water-saving methods that require costly infrastructure, biochar offers a nature-based, low-cost and circular economy solution. By converting farm waste into a valuable soil input, biochar not only improves water availability but also increases crop yields, reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers and supports long-term carbon storage in soil.

The findings have strong relevance for addressing broader challenges such as groundwater depletion, drought stress and declining soil quality across India. The research suggests that adoption of biochar can help farmers improve crop survival during dry spells, enhance productivity and income, and promote sustainable use of agricultural residues instead of open burning.

Highlighting the need for such studies, Vice Chancellor, Nagaland University, Prof Jagadish K Patnaik said that the research reflects Nagaland University’s commitment on developing practical, locally relevant solutions for the unique challenges of hill agriculture of surrounding environments.

He said 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.

The research was undertaken by Prof Prabhakar Sharma, Department of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Nagaland University, along with Dr Shakir Ali, University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr Anamika Shrivastava, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh and Dr Krishna Kumar Yadav, Parul University, Gujarat.

The findings were published in Discover Soil (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44378-026-00210-3), an open-access, peer-reviewed journal focused on all major areas of soil science brought out by Springer Nature.

Highlighting the importance of the research, Prof Prabhakar Sharma, Department of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Nagaland University said that the study aims to identify suitable locally available biomass for biochar production and evaluate its performance in steep and terraced farming systems.

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He said the study further examines optimal application rates, long-term impacts on crop yield and soil health, and economic benefits for small and marginal farmers.

Highlighting what makes this study unique compared to similar research in the field, Prof Prabhakar Sharma added, “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.”

The team plans to take the research forward through pilot demonstrations in university farms, village clusters, terrace fields and horticultural plantations. Future efforts will also include farmer training programmes and collaboration with government agencies to support wider adoption of biochar-based practices.

The study underlines the potential of biochar as a solution that not only improves agricultural productivity but also contributes to environmental conservation. By restoring degraded soils, reducing biomass burning and enhancing carbon storage, biochar can play a key role in strengthening climate resilience in ecologically sensitive hill regions.