Research on Biochar Technology to Improve Soil Fertility and Moisture Retention

TLDR

• Speaking to journalists during the Nane Nane Agricultural Exhibition for the Eastern Lake Zone in Simiyu Region, TARI Ukiriguru soil researcher Dr Frank Mabagala said soil nutrient levels have declined by between 40 and.
• Soil health has declined by between 40 and 60 per cent in many areas, especially in the Lake Zone.
• THE Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) has called on farmers to adopt soil restoration measures to reverse declining soil fertility, warning that deteriorating soil health is undermining agricultural.
• The researcher also advised farmers to stop burning crop residues after harvest, saying studies conducted by TARI Ukiriguru show that chopping and incorporating residues into the soil increases organic matter, improves.
• He said the technology will be introduced to farmers after completion of ongoing research, providing another sustainable option for restoring degraded soils and increasing farm productivity.