Revitalising Agrarian Economies: The Use of Biochar on Banana-based Agroforestry System in Nepal’s hills

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dc.contributor.authorPandit, B.H.
dc.contributor.authorNuberg, I.K.
dc.contributor.authorShrestha, K.K.
dc.contributor.authorCedamon, E.
dc.contributor.authorAmatya, S.M.
dc.contributor.authorDhakal, B.
dc.contributor.authorSchmidt, H.P.
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractThe use of biochar in agroforestry practices is a new concept in Nepal. The soil application of biochar is a promising alternative to increase productivity and reduce chemical fertilizers. To test this concept, an action research project was implemented in two villages of Lamjung district in the middle hills of Nepal. This study aimed at assessing the productivity and livelihood impacts of a banana-based agroforestry system with and without biochar-based fertilization. Biochar was used in one village while another village served as the control (with Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium – NPK application, but no biochar). The information obtained from 111 household surveys was verified and tested through five farmers’ field trials. The paper investigates the effect of different fertilizers on banana yields and its contributions on poverty reduction. The result of the study shows that the banana yield increased by 41 per cent in the plots treated with urine-biochar plus compost compared to the control with conventional NPK fertilization; and more than doubled (102%) compared to the fertilization with compost only. Findings also revealed that the poverty level of respondent households using biochar dropped by 30 per cent (from 66% to 36%) in Dhamilikuwa (biochar village) and dropped by 19 per cent (from 40% to 21%) in JitaTaxar (control village). The study implies that the use of biochar in banana-based agroforestry system has the potential for increasing soil productivity and reducing poverty, thereby revitalising agrarian economy of many Nepali villages. A wider replication of this study is therefore recommended, together with enabling public policies to support this practice.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityBishnu Hari Pandit, Ian Nuberg, Krishna Kumar Shrestha, Edwin Cedamon, Swoyambhu Man Amatya, Bishow Dhakal, and Hans Peter Schmidt
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Forest and Livelihood, 2020; 19(1):17-31
dc.identifier.issn1684-0186
dc.identifier.issn1684-0186
dc.identifier.orcidNuberg, I.K. [0000-0003-1942-1190]
dc.identifier.orcidCedamon, E. [0000-0002-8781-6592]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/146056
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherForestAction
dc.rightsCopyright Status Unknown
dc.source.urihttps://www.forestaction.org/app/webroot/vendor/tinymce/editor/plugins/filemanager/files/JFL%2019%20(1)/2%20Pandit%20et%20al.pdf
dc.subjectbiochar; agroforestry practices; Nepal; Soil; banana-based agroforestry system; biochar-based fertilization
dc.titleRevitalising Agrarian Economies: The Use of Biochar on Banana-based Agroforestry System in Nepal’s hills
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished online

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