Agnieszka E Latawiec1,2,3,4,5, Bernardo B N Strassburg6,7,8, André B Junqueira6,7,9, Ednaldo Araujo10, Luiz Fernando D de Moraes10, Helena A N Pinto6,7,8, Ana Castro6,7, Marcio Rangel7, Gustavo A Malaguti6,7, Aline F Rodrigues6,7, Luis Gustavo Barioni11, Etelvino H Novotny12, Gerard Cornelissen13, Maiara Mendes6,7,14, Nilcileny Batista15, Jose Guilherme Guerra10, Everaldo Zonta15, Catarina Jakovac7, Sarah E Hale13. 1. Department of Geography and the Environment, Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, 22453900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. a.latawiec@iis-rio.org. 2. International Institute for Sustainability, Estrada Dona Castorina 124, 22460-320, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. a.latawiec@iis-rio.org. 3. National School of Tropical Botany (ENBT), Rua Pacheco Leão, 2040 - Solar da Imperatriz, Horto, 22460-036, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. a.latawiec@iis-rio.org. 4. Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Informatics, Faculty of Production and Power Engineering, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Balicka 116B, 30-149, Kraków, Poland. a.latawiec@iis-rio.org. 5. University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK. a.latawiec@iis-rio.org. 6. Department of Geography and the Environment, Rio Conservation and Sustainability Science Centre, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, 22453900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 7. International Institute for Sustainability, Estrada Dona Castorina 124, 22460-320, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 8. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 68020, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 9. Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellatera, Barcelona, Spain. 10. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Agrobiology, Rodovia BR 465, Km 7, 23891-000, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro Brazil Embrapa Agrobiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 11. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Agricultural Informatics, Av. Dr. André Tosello, 209 - Cidade Universitária, 13083-886, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. 12. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Soils, R. Jardim Botânico, 1024 - Jardim Botânico, 22460-000, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. 13. Department of Environmental Engineering, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, P.O. Box 3930, Ullevål Stadion, N-0806, Oslo, Norway. 14. National School of Tropical Botany (ENBT), Rua Pacheco Leão, 2040 - Solar da Imperatriz, Horto, 22460-036, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 15. Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Rodovia BR 465, Km 07, 23890-000, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Abstract
Most deforested lands in Brazil are occupied by low-productivity cattle ranching. Brazil is the second biggest meat producer worldwide and is projected to increase its agricultural output more than any other country. Biochar has been shown to improve soil properties and agricultural productivity when added to degraded soils, but these effects are context-dependent. The impact of biochar, fertilizer and inoculant on the productivity of forage grasses in Brazil (Brachiaria spp. and Panicum spp.) was investigated from environmental and socio-economic perspectives. We showed a 27% average increase in Brachiaria production over two years but no significant effects of amendment on Panicum yield. Biochar addition also increased the contents of macronutrients, soil pH and CEC. Each hectare amended with biochar saved 91 tonnes of CO2eq through land sparing effect, 13 tonnes of CO2eq sequestered in the soil, equating to U$455 in carbon payments. The costs of biochar production for smallholder farmers, mostly because of labour cost, outweighed the potential benefits of its use. Biochar is 617% more expensive than common fertilizers. Biochar could improve productivity of degraded pasturelands in Brazil if investments in efficient biochar production techniques are used and biochar is subsidized by low emission incentive schemes.
Most deforested lands in Brazil are oc<pan class="Chemical">span class="Chemical">cun>an>pied by low-productivity <sppan>an class="Species">cattle ranching. Brazil is the second biggest meat producer worldwide and is projected to increase its agri<span class="Chemical">cultural output more than any other country. Biochar has been shown to improve soil properties and agricultural productivity when added to degraded soils, but these effects are context-dependent. The impact of biochar, fertilizer and inoculant on the productivity of forage grasses in Brazil (Brachiaria spp. and Panicum spp.) was investigated from environmental and socio-economic perspectives. We showed a 27% average increase in Brachiaria production over two years but no significant effects of amendment on Panicum yield. Biochar addition also increased the contents of macronutrients, soil pH and CEC. Each hectare amended with biochar saved 91 tonnes of CO2eq through land sparing effect, 13 tonnes of CO2eq sequestered in the soil, equating to U$455 in carbon payments. The costs of biochar production for smallholder farmers, mostly because of labour cost, outweighed the potential benefits of its use. Biochar is 617% more expensive than common fertilizers. Biochar could improve productivity of degraded pasturelands in Brazil if investments in efficient biochar production techniques are used and biochar is subsidized by low emission incentive schemes.