Wheat Straw Biochar: A Smart Way to Preserve Soil and Water Balance in Rice Fields
- Masyita Insyra Putri
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Have you ever imagined that charcoal made from wheat straw could help maintain the fertility of soil and water in rice paddies? This idea is now gaining attention in the world of sustainable agriculture. One key player in this process is Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) — a simple term with a powerful role in balancing soil and water ecosystems.
What Is DOM and Why Is It Important?
DOM refers to organic compounds that dissolve in water and move easily between soil and water. Despite its seemingly simple nature, DOM is crucial in many ecosystem processes, such as:
Binding and transporting essential nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus
Filtering pollutants from groundwater
Serving as a food source for beneficial soil microbes
Interestingly, DOM can be formed or influenced by biochar, especially biochar made from wheat straw.
Biochar: The Charcoal Hero for Soil
Biochar is a type of charcoal produced by burning organic materials (like straw) under limited oxygen conditions. Unlike regular charcoal, biochar is rich in stable aromatic structures that are resistant to microbial breakdown. But that's not its only strength.
When biochar partially dissolves in water, it releases DOM that varies depending on the pyrolysis temperature. In this study, biochar was made from wheat straw at three different temperatures: 300°C, 500°C, and 700°C. The results?
Biochar produced at 700°C released the most DOM: 1.45 g per kg
Meanwhile, the 500°C biochar released the least DOM: only 0.61 g per kg
Moreover, the DOM from high-temperature biochar was richer in aromatic compounds, humic acids (great for soil), as well as proteins and amino acids like tryptophan.
How Does This Benefit Rice Fields?
To understand the practical impact, researchers simulated flooded rice field conditions and added the different biochars to soil columns. The findings were intriguing:
Biochar enhanced the aromatic properties of DOM, making it more stable and beneficial
DOM in flooded soil decomposed faster, making nutrients more available to plants
DOM moved downward through the soil along with water flow—important for enriching lower soil layers
Chemical indicators like SUVA254 and SUVA260 (used to measure DOM properties) increased, showing that the DOM became more complex and stable as it moved with leachate water
What Does This Mean for Agriculture?
These discoveries suggest that:
Wheat straw biochar is not just agricultural waste—it can be a powerful tool to improve soil and water quality. ✅
The temperature of biochar production significantly affects the quality of DOM released. ✅
Biochar can help balance nutrients in the soil and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers. ✅
A Second Life for Straw
Usually, straw is burned or discarded after harvest. But through biochar technology, straw can be transformed into a protector of soil and water balance. This is not just a healthier agricultural practice—it’s also a smart step toward fighting land degradation and water pollution.
Want a rice field that’s more fertile and environmentally friendly? The answer might lie in a handful of biochar.
Discover more about SAWA’s innovative biochar production and its impact on sustainable farming.
Comments