Skip to content
Home▶ Journals▶ Indian Journal of Agroforestry▶Archive▶Vol. 27 No. 2 (2025)▶Economic Implications and Quality Assessment of Biochar-…
Indian Journal of Agroforestry ›
Print ISSN 0972-0715 · Online ISSN 2456-6489
Submit your paper About the journal
Articles

Economic Implications and Quality Assessment of Biochar- Enriched Potting Media: A Case Study on Terminalia Bellerica Seedlings

, , , ,
Pankaj Sherke — ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 284003, Uttar Pradesh
Suresh Ramanan S — ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 284003, Uttar Pradesh
Naresh Kumar — ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 284003, Uttar Pradesh
Ashta Gupta — ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 284003, Uttar Pradesh
A. Arunachalam — ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 284003, Uttar Pradesh
Published 22 Oct 2026 Vol. 27 No. 2 (2025), pp. 122-125 ● Open access
❝ How to cite 🔗 https://doi.org/10.48165/ija.2025.27.02.14
Formats:Full text (HTML)JATS XMLPDF ● Open access
Download PDF

Abstract

Terminalia bellerica Roxb. is a tall, deciduous, indigenous tree species widely recognized for its medicinal value and is a key ingredient in Triphala, a traditional Ayurvedic formulation that also includes Terminalia chebula and Emblica officinalis. Adapted to specific climatic conditions, it plays an important role in local economies, highlighting its ecological and economic significance in India’s forest ecosystems. Among the treatments, conventional media (T1: soil + sand + FYM, 1:1:1) was compared with various biochar-based combinations, particularly T2 (soil + biochar + FYM, 1:1:1). Biochar, known for its low bulk density, porous structure, and nutrient-retention capacity, significantly reduced the filled polybag weight and enhanced water retention. Water retention analysis across all treatments demonstrated the effectiveness of biochar as a sustainable nursery media amendment. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of biochar as a substrate on the growth and development of selected tree species seedlings and to assess the influence of varying biochar proportions on seedling quality parameters.

KeywordsBiocharTerminalia bellericaEconomic analysisGrowth attributes
  1. 1.Ayaz, M., Feizienė, D., Tilvikienė, V., Akhtar, K., Stulpinaitė, U., & Iqbal, R. (2021). Biochar role in the sustainability of agriculture and environment. Sustainability, 13(3), Article 1330. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031330
  2. 2. Cassel, D. K., & Nielsen, D. R. (2018). Field capacity and available water capacity. In A. Klute (Ed.), SSSA book series (pp. 901–926). Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssabookser5.1.2ed.c36
  3. 3. Chrysargyris, A., Xylia, P., Akinci, G., Moustakas, K., & Tzortzakis, N. (2020). Printed paper waste as an alternative growing medium component to produce Brassica seedlings under nursery conditions. Sustainability, 12(15), Article 5992. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12155992
  4. 4. Das, S. K., Ghosh, G. K., & Avasthe, R. (2022). Biochar and organic manures on produce quality, energy budgeting, and soil health in maize-black gram system. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 15(18), Article 1527. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-10790-3
  5. 5. Dattappa, Rachana, B. L., C., P. L., R., Ali, S., & C. M., A. (2024). Biochar: A green revolution in forestry. Vigyan Varta: An International E-Magazine for Science Enthusiasts, 5(11).
  6. 6. Fascella, G., Mammano, M. M., D’Angiolillo, F., Pannico, A., & Rouphael, Y. (2020). Coniferous wood biochar as substrate component of two containerized lavender species: Effects on morpho-physiological traits and nutrients partitioning. Scientia Horticulturae, 267, Article 109356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2020.109356
  7. 7. Humnessa, T., Zebena, A., & Derero, A. (2023). Effect of poultry manure and its biochar on seedling vigor of selected multipurpose tree species. Journal of Forest Research, 12, Article 335.
  8. 8. Khalid, S., Shahid, M., Murtaza, B., Bibi, I., Natasha, Naeem, M. A., & Niazi, N. K. (2020). A critical review of different factors governing the fate of pesticides in soil under biochar application. Science of the Total Environment, 711, Article 134645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134645
  9. 9. Minhas, W. A., Hussain, M., Mehboob, N., Nawaz, A., Ul-Allah, S., Rizwan, M. S., & Hassan, Z. (2020). Synergetic use of biochar and synthetic nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers to improve maize productivity and nutrient retention in loamy soil. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 43(9), 1356–1368. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2020.1729804
  10. 10. Natalli, L. H., Hillig, E., Lombardi, K. C., Godinho, M., & Nuñez, R. P. (2024). Use of biochar as a component of substrates in horticulture and forestry: A review. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo, 48, Article e0240027. https://doi.org/10.36783/18069657rbcs20240027
  11. 11. Robert, É., & Braghiroli, F. L. (2022). Development of a biochar-based substrate added with nitrogen from a mining effluent for the production of Picea mariana seedlings. Clean Technologies, 4(3), 770–784. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol4030047
  12. 12. Sharma, S., Rana, V. S., Rana, N., Prasad, H., Sharma, U., & Patiyal, V. (2022). Biochar from fruit crops waste and its potential impact on fruit crops. Scientia Horticulturae, 299, Article 111052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2022.111052
  13. 13. Xing, Y., Tan, S., Liu, S., Xu, S., Wan, W., Huang, Q., & Chen, W. (2022). Effective immobilization of heavy metals via reactive barrier by rhizosphere bacteria and their biofilms. Environmental Research, 207, Article 112080. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.112080
  14. Do you like this personality?

Looking up citing articles…

    Copyright © 2026 Indian Journal of Agroforestry