Benefits of Biochar Applications

1. Improved soil fertility and crop yields

2. Increased fertilizer efficiency use

3. Improved water retention, aeration and soil tilth

4. Higher cation exchange capacity and less nutrient runoff

5. Clean and efficient biomass energy production from crop residues and forest debris

6. Leads to net sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere to the soil thereby increasing soil organic carbon

7. Greater on-farm profitability

8. Decreased nitrous oxide and methane emissions from soils

9. Provides powerful tool for reversing desertification

10. Provides alternative for slash-and-burn agriculture

11. Can work as component of reforestation and aforestation efforts

12. Can produce electricity, bio-oils, and/or hydrogen fuels

13. Can use wide variety of feedstock including crop residues such as wheat and corn straw, poultry litter, cow manure, forest debris, and other farm-based biomass resources

14. Acts as a liming agent to reduce acidity of soils

Vermi Compost

Incorporating vermi compost into soil provides the following benefits :

-  Adds organic matter
-  Helps soil to absorb and retain water
-  Breaks up clay soils
-  Improves soil structure
-  Increases cation exchange capacity
-  Eases cultivation
-  Helps form soil aggregates
-  Enhances soil fertility
-  Reduces bulk density
-  Improves soil aeration
-  Increases soil microbial populations
-  Reduces soil compaction
-  Diminishes soil erosion
-  Reduces pH
-  Lowers electrical conductivity
-  Helps prevent soil crusting
-  Provides micro and macro nutrients and increases their availability 

Troubleshooting

There are two major problems in the process of making vermi compost.

• Death of worms in large and small numbers

• Worms are dying for the following reasons:

• If they are not getting enough food, therefore food should be buried into the bedding.

• Food may be too dry, so moisture should be maintained until it is slightly damp.

• Food may be too wet, in which case bedding should be added.

• The worms may be too hot, so the bin should be put in the shade.

• Bad smells from the vermicomposting grounds

• It is due to that there is not enough air circulation. In this case, add dry bedding under and over the worms. Turning of the food may give better result.

• There may be present some materials such as meat, pet feces, or greasy foods, which are harmful in the compost, pit. These should be removed.

• Important practical points for vermiculture

• No smell if the right products or bedding and feed are used.

• No need to turn the compost as the worms act like little ploughs turning the bedding and food.

• Air is circulating on a continuous period.

• Composting time is short in comparison to other composts.

• Composting can be done year round. 

Trees Per Person In India

World has 422 Trees for every person

India has 28 Trees for every person

Proper Irrigation Method for Trees

5 R's of Zero Waste Lifestyle

1.  Refuse
2.  Reduce
3.  Recycle
4.  Reuse
5.  Rot

Tree Plantation Process

Moving Large Trees

  

Source :   www.lite-soil.com

List of Plants Used for Grey Water Treatment

Some of the quick growing plants which can be used for bio-filtering grey water.

1.  Banana
2.  Vetriver
3.  Cattails
4.  Phragmitis
5.  Canna