Investigation, Prospects, and Economic Scenarios for the Use of Biochar in Small-Scale Agriculture in Tropical

Vinicius John (), Ana Rita de Oliveira Braga, Criscian Kellen Amaro de Oliveira Danielli, Heiriane Martins Sousa, Filipe Eduardo Danielli, Newton Paulo de Souza Falcão, João Guerra, Dimas José Lasmar and Cláudia S. C. Marques-dos-Santos
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Vinicius John: Forest Research Centre CEF, Associate Laboratory TERRA, School of Agriculture ISA-UL, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Ana Rita de Oliveira Braga: Forest Research Centre CEF, Associate Laboratory TERRA, School of Agriculture ISA-UL, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Criscian Kellen Amaro de Oliveira Danielli: Forest Research Centre CEF, Associate Laboratory TERRA, School of Agriculture ISA-UL, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Heiriane Martins Sousa: Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Amazonas—IFAM, Manaus 69025-010, AM, Brazil
Filipe Eduardo Danielli: Forest Research Centre CEF, Associate Laboratory TERRA, School of Agriculture ISA-UL, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
Newton Paulo de Souza Falcão: National Institute for Amazonian Research—INPA, Manaus 69067-375, AM, Brazil
João Guerra: Institute of Social Sciences at the University of Lisbon—ICS-UL, 1600-189 Lisboa, Portugal
Dimas José Lasmar: Department of Applied Economics (DEA), Faculty of Social Studies, Federal University of Amazonas—UFAM, Manaus 69077-000, AM, Brazil
Cláudia S. C. Marques-dos-Santos: Forest Research Centre CEF, Associate Laboratory TERRA, School of Agriculture ISA-UL, University of Lisbon, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: This study investigates the production and economic feasibility of biochar for smallholder and family farms in Central Amazonia, with potential implications for other tropical regions. The costs of construction of a prototype mobile kiln and biochar production were evaluated, using small-sized biomass from acai ( Euterpe oleracea Mart.) agro-industrial residues as feedstock. The biochar produced was characterised in terms of its liming capacity (calcium carbonate equivalence, CaCO 3eq ), nutrient content via organic fertilisation methods, and ash analysis by ICP-OES. Field trials with cowpea assessed economic outcomes, as well scenarios of fractional biochar application and cost comparison between biochar production in the prototype kiln and a traditional earth-brick kiln. The prototype kiln showed production costs of USD 0.87–2.06 kg −1 , whereas traditional kiln significantly reduced costs (USD 0.03–0.08 kg −1 ). Biochar application alone increased cowpea revenue by 34%, while combining biochar and lime raised cowpea revenues by up to 84.6%. Owing to high input costs and the low value of the crop, the control treatment generated greater net revenue compared to treatments using lime alone. Moreover, biochar produced in traditional kilns provided a 94% increase in net revenue compared to liming. The estimated externalities indicated that carbon credits represented the most significant potential source of income (USD 2217 ha −1 ). Finally, fractional biochar application in ten years can retain over 97% of soil carbon content, demonstrating potential for sustainable agriculture and carbon sequestration and a potential further motivation for farmers if integrated into carbon markets. Public policies and technological adaptations are essential for facilitating biochar adoption by small-scale tropical farmers.

Keywords: biochar; economic feasibility; tropical; smallholder agriculture; family farming; small-sized biomass; kiln technology; carbon sequestration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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