The workshop discussed the soil’s declining fertility that could be enhanced with bio-char. PHOTO: APP/FILE
An international workshop on bio-char, arranged by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), took place on Monday. The workshop discussed the soil’s declining fertility that could be enhanced with bio-char. This would increase agricultural production for the ever-increasing population of the country, stated speakers during the inaugural session.
Biochar is charcoal which is particularly used for the purpose of soil amendment. It can increase soil fertility, increase agricultural productivity, and provide protection against some foliar and soil-borne diseases.
“Pakistan, being an agrarian country, has numerous resources of bio-char and biomass which are available from agricultural crops and solid waste generated in huge quantities,” said Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, UAF vice chancellor, while speaking at the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2014.
Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
This International workshop on biochar was held by the financial support of British council under the UK researcher link program. The partners from UK (Dr Simon Shackley, University of Edinburgh, UK) and (Dr. Fahd Rasul, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Pakistan) jointly won the project grant. An extensive 4 days (24-27 March, 2014) was organized as a pioneer event in the field of biochar with the title of BIOCHAR FOR CLIMATE FRIENDLY AGRICULTURE, Shifting paradigms towards higher precision and accuracy. Experts were invited from UK(Dr. Ruben Sakrabani, Cranfield univ. UK, Muhammad Saghir, Plant manager, european bioenergy research institute, Aston Univ. UK) and China (Prof. Dr. Genxing Pan, Nanjing agricultural University). A platform to bring together the people interested in biochar science and technology from all provinces of Pakistan participated in this International workshop. As an out put of the workshop an initiative for joint work and mutual cooperation and representation on international forums is started with the name of PAKISTAN BIOCHAR INITIATIVE , The details can be found at www.pakistanbiochar.com or if you are interested to know more about biochar then get in touch via pakistanbiochar@gmail.com. Thanks Erich J. Knight for sharing the wonderful presentation on biochar. I can certainly say "Good ideas are growing". I am thankful to Prof. Dr Ashfaq ahmad (Officer Incharge Climate Chnage Cell, UAF) and Vice chancellor prof. Dr. Iqrar A. Khan for his generous support during the workshop. Great Thanks to Chairperson(Dr. Simon Shackley) and team of British biochar foundation for their non stop cooperation. Regards Dr Fahd Rasul Chairperson, Pakistan biochar initiative, Grant manager(UK researcher link program) and assistant professor of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad.
For a complete review of the current science & industry applications of Biochar please see my 2013 Umass Biochar presentation. How thermal conversion technologies can integrate and optimize the recycling of valuable nutrients while providing energy and building soil carbon, I believe it brings together both sides of climate beliefs. A reconciling of both Gods' and mans' controlling hands.
Agricultural Geo - Engineering; Past, Present & Future Across scientific disciplines carbons are finding new utility to solve our most vexing problems http://www.trunity.net/files/236901_237000/236919/kinght2013-1.pdf