Sustainable and efficient utilization of weed biomass for carbon farming and productivity enhancement: A simple, rapid and ecofriendly approach in the context of climate change scenario

Climate change being very real and dangerous to our planet, immense efforts are underway to evolve mitigation measures to scale down the emission of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. Among the technological frameworks laid out to offset anthropogenic emission, carbon farming is considered to have...

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Main Authors: M P Sujatha, Ph.D, C Lathika, Ph.D, John K Smitha, Ph.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-08-01
Series:Environmental Challenges
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010021001293
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author M P Sujatha, Ph.D
C Lathika, Ph.D
John K Smitha, Ph.D
author_facet M P Sujatha, Ph.D
C Lathika, Ph.D
John K Smitha, Ph.D
author_sort M P Sujatha, Ph.D
collection DOAJ
description Climate change being very real and dangerous to our planet, immense efforts are underway to evolve mitigation measures to scale down the emission of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. Among the technological frameworks laid out to offset anthropogenic emission, carbon farming is considered to have co-benefits of restoring soil health and productivity enhancement. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to explore the carbon farming potential of weed biomass, which otherwise are considered as threats to agriculture, environment and biodiversity. The study was designed to transform the weed biomass to carbon rich humic substance using various activators such as urea, cow dung, microbial consortium (Bacillus subtilis), and a farm derived liquid organic formulation namely jeevamrutham. Results of the study indicated that among the activators, farm derived organic formulation was very effective in converting the weed biomass to carbon rich humic substance within a short period of 70–75 days. Apart from carbon, the humic substance produced from weed biomass was also endowed with essential nutrients, diverse microorganisms, increased resistance to pathogens, desirable quality for organic farming and consequent productivity enhancement. This approach for weed management, being environment and climate friendly, is popularized among women self-help groups, farmers, foresters etc. for enhanced livelihood as well as environmental safety.
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spelling doaj.art-3b77a085c9e7465096c2921397fb01082022-12-21T22:05:42ZengElsevierEnvironmental Challenges2667-01002021-08-014100150Sustainable and efficient utilization of weed biomass for carbon farming and productivity enhancement: A simple, rapid and ecofriendly approach in the context of climate change scenarioM P Sujatha, Ph.D0C Lathika, Ph.D1John K Smitha, Ph.D2Soil Science Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala, 680653, India; Corresponding author.Soil Science Department, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala, 680653, IndiaSoil Science and Agricultural Chemistry Department, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agriculture University, Kerala, IndiaClimate change being very real and dangerous to our planet, immense efforts are underway to evolve mitigation measures to scale down the emission of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. Among the technological frameworks laid out to offset anthropogenic emission, carbon farming is considered to have co-benefits of restoring soil health and productivity enhancement. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to explore the carbon farming potential of weed biomass, which otherwise are considered as threats to agriculture, environment and biodiversity. The study was designed to transform the weed biomass to carbon rich humic substance using various activators such as urea, cow dung, microbial consortium (Bacillus subtilis), and a farm derived liquid organic formulation namely jeevamrutham. Results of the study indicated that among the activators, farm derived organic formulation was very effective in converting the weed biomass to carbon rich humic substance within a short period of 70–75 days. Apart from carbon, the humic substance produced from weed biomass was also endowed with essential nutrients, diverse microorganisms, increased resistance to pathogens, desirable quality for organic farming and consequent productivity enhancement. This approach for weed management, being environment and climate friendly, is popularized among women self-help groups, farmers, foresters etc. for enhanced livelihood as well as environmental safety.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010021001293Weed biomassCarbon farmingProductivity enhancementHumic substance
spellingShingle M P Sujatha, Ph.D
C Lathika, Ph.D
John K Smitha, Ph.D
Sustainable and efficient utilization of weed biomass for carbon farming and productivity enhancement: A simple, rapid and ecofriendly approach in the context of climate change scenario
Environmental Challenges
Weed biomass
Carbon farming
Productivity enhancement
Humic substance
title Sustainable and efficient utilization of weed biomass for carbon farming and productivity enhancement: A simple, rapid and ecofriendly approach in the context of climate change scenario
title_full Sustainable and efficient utilization of weed biomass for carbon farming and productivity enhancement: A simple, rapid and ecofriendly approach in the context of climate change scenario
title_fullStr Sustainable and efficient utilization of weed biomass for carbon farming and productivity enhancement: A simple, rapid and ecofriendly approach in the context of climate change scenario
title_full_unstemmed Sustainable and efficient utilization of weed biomass for carbon farming and productivity enhancement: A simple, rapid and ecofriendly approach in the context of climate change scenario
title_short Sustainable and efficient utilization of weed biomass for carbon farming and productivity enhancement: A simple, rapid and ecofriendly approach in the context of climate change scenario
title_sort sustainable and efficient utilization of weed biomass for carbon farming and productivity enhancement a simple rapid and ecofriendly approach in the context of climate change scenario
topic Weed biomass
Carbon farming
Productivity enhancement
Humic substance
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010021001293
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