Biochar Boosts Crop Yield and Methane Mitigation for Rice Paddies in Improved Cultivation Systems

Abstract

Punjab's rice production systems face mounting challenges from groundwater depletion, crop residue management and agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. This report presents first-year findings from a collaborative field trial conducted by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to evaluate the potential of rice-residue biochar as a climate-smart agricultural solution. The study examined multiple biochar application rates across different rice establishment and irrigation systems, including direct-seeded rice (DSR), alternate wetting and drying (AWD), and conventional flooded cultivation.

Results demonstrate that biochar can improve crop performance while delivering significant environmental benefits. Moderate application rates increased rice yields, reduced irrigation requirements and contributed to meaningful reductions in methane emissions and overall greenhouse gas impacts. The strongest outcomes were observed when biochar was combined with water-saving practices such as AWD and DSR, highlighting the value of integrated approaches that address productivity, water conservation and climate mitigation simultaneously.

The findings suggest that biochar derived from rice residues could provide a productive alternative to residue burning while supporting more sustainable rice cultivation. The report also identifies priorities for future research, including multi-season validation, farmer adoption studies and development of scalable implementation models to support wider adoption across rice-growing regions.

Citation

The Nature Conservancy. (2026). Biochar boosts crop yield and methane mitigation for rice paddies in improved cultivation systems: First-year findings from a field trial in Punjab, India. The Nature Conservancy.