From rhetoric to reality: farmer perspectives on the economic potential of biochar in China

Clare, Abbie, Barnes, Andrew, Mcdonagh, John and Shackley, Simon (2014) From rhetoric to reality: farmer perspectives on the economic potential of biochar in China. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 12 (4). pp. 440-458. ISSN 1473-5903

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Abstract

Biochar has garnered much attention for its potential to improve farming productivity and sustainability by amending soil, enhancing crop yields, improving fertilizer use efficiency and sequestering carbon. However, few publications consider farmer perspectives on whether biochar is attractive as an agricultural input. This paper therefore investigates the micro-economics and social suitability of biochar in four contrasting Chinese agricultural systems, using linear optimization models and qualitative contextual data. Results demonstrate that commercially produced biochar is uneconomic as an independent farming input, whilst farm-produced biochar shows promise in just one of four case-study sites. This suggests that biochar research in China should shift away from on-farm production and application of pure biochar, towards combined biochar-inorganic fertilizer products.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sdg 2 - zero hunger ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/zero_hunger
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development) Faculty of Science > School of Pharmacy
UEA Research Groups:	University of East Anglia Schools > Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	10 Feb 2015 15:56
Last Modified:	14 Jun 2023 12:04
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/52160
DOI:	10.1080/14735903.2014.927711

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