Hanuman Jatav

By Hanuman Singh Jatav, Satish Kumar Singh, Surendra Singh Jatav, Vishnu D. Rajput, Manoj Parihar, Sonu Kumar Mahawer, Rajesh Kumar Singhal and Sukirtee

Climate change is affecting all four dimensions of food security: food availability, food accessibility, food utilization, and food systems stability. It is also affecting human health, livelihood assets, food production, and distribution channels, as well as changing purchasing power and market flows. Keeping in view, the present chapter is focusing mostly on biochar. Biochar is usually produced by pyrolysis of biomass at around temperature range of 300–600°C. It is under investigation as an approach to carbon sequestration to produce negative carbon emissions. Present agriculture is leading mining of nutrients and reduction in soil organic matter levels through repetitive harvesting of crops. The most widespread solution to this depletion is the application of soil amendments in the form of fertilizers containing the three major nutrients. The nitrogen is considered the most limiting nutrient for plant growth useful for protein builds, structures, hormones, chlorophyll, vitamins, and enzymes. Biochar may be added to soils to improve soil health, improve soil fertility, and sequester carbon. However, the variable application rates, uncertain feedstock effects, and initial soil state provide a wide range of cost for marginally improved yield from biochar additions, which is often economically impracticable. There is a need for further research on optimizing biochar application to improve crop yields.

Part of the book: Applications of Biochar for Environmental Safety

By Asik Dutta, Abhik Patra, Hanuman Singh Jatav, Surendra Singh Jatav, Satish Kumar Singh, Eetela Sathyanarayana, Sudhanshu Verma and Pavan Singh

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity is highly detrimental for the human and largely originated from faulty industrial and agricultural practices. Cadmium toxicity can be observed in minute concentration and highly mobile in the soil–plant system and availability in soil is mainly governed by various physio-chemical properties of the soil. Cereals and vegetables cultivated in peri-urban areas, former mining and industrial areas accumulate Cd in toxic limit as they receive Cd from multiple ways. In general, when the total cadmium (Cd) concentration in soil exceeds 8 mg kg−1, or the bioavailable Cd concentration becomes >0.001 mg kg−1, or the Cd concentration in plant tissue reaches 3–30 mg kg−1 most plants exhibit visible Cd toxicity symptoms. The impacts of Cd toxicity are seed germination, growth, photosynthesis, stomata conductance, enzyme activities and alteration in mineral nutrition. The major source of Cd in human is food chain cycle and causes disorders like “itai-itai” disease, cancer, and nephrotoxicity. Cadmium harms kidney, liver, bone and reproductive body parts and may be fatal in serious condition. WHO recommended the tolerable monthly Cd intake are 25 μg kg−1 body weights and in drinking water Cd concentration should not exceed 3 μg L−1. It is hard to remove these potent and hazardous metals from the environment as they have long mean residence time but, can be converted into less toxic form through bioremediation. This chapter focuses on the effect of Cd toxicity in soil–plant-human continuum and its bioremediation techniques to mitigate the Cd- toxicity.

Part of the book: Soil Contamination

By Ipsita Samal, Deepak Kumar Mahanta, Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi, J. Komal, Hanuman Singh Jatav, Surendra Singh Jatav and Eetela Sathyanarayana

Agricultural crop growth and productivity are significantly influenced by a wide variety of biotic and abiotic factors. In order to address these shortcomings, substantial amounts of chemical fertilisers are administered to the land. The widespread use of chemical fertilisers has led to the degradation of ecosystems and various associated issues, including decreased nutritional quality of crops and the long-term decline in soil fertility. The excessive uses of fertilisers and pesticides have adverse implications for soil vitality, resulting in a substantial reduction in the biomass. Therefore, the use of biochar has been sustainable method and a potentially efficient strategy for improving soil quality and addressing the issue of heavy metal pollution in soil. Integrating biochar into the soil offers a significant chance to enhance soil quality and promote plant growth. The efficacy of biochar in enhancing nutrient cycles on agricultural lands is highlighted by its positive impact on plant growth and soil vitality, rendering it a practical instrument for mitigating nutrient deficiencies. The present chapter focuses on the utilisation of biochar and its impact on the soil microbial population, plant diseases, plant-parasitic nematodes, and insect pests and highlights the utility of biochar as an effective agent for plant protection.

Part of the book: Sustainable Use of Biochar [Working title]