Biochar Integration Reduces Rice Production Emissions by 80% in New Study

Researchers from Diponegoro University used closed chambers to extract gas samples

GROBOGAN, INDONESIA - A recent rice field study in Central Java, Indonesia, found that integrating biochar into conventional farming practices reduced total greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent, while also increasing crop yields.

The emissions reduction was driven primarily by lower methane output. Methane potential declined from 4,545 to 803 kg CO₂-equivalent (CO2e) per hectare in biochar-treated plots compared to the control.

Beyond climate impact, the study also recorded productivity gains. Rice yields increased by 6%, supported by taller plants averaging 74 cm and a higher number of tillers, reaching around 20 per plant.

The research was conducted from May to August 2025 on a 3,600 square meter paddy field in Grobogan, Central Java. It was part of a collaborative effort involving Bank Indonesia, WasteX, and Diponegoro University.

Initiated by Bank Indonesia, the project aims to align national food security with climate mitigation targets by establishing practical, low-emission farming guidelines.

WasteX supported the initiative by supplying high-quality rice husk biochar and providing technical training on how to charge and apply biochar properly.

Biochar was applied at 4 tons per hectare and blended with compost. And to isolate biochar's impact, fertilizer levels were held identical across both the biochar-treated and control plots.

This intervention addresses a critical need, as rice cultivation currently accounts for 34 percent of all agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in Indonesia.

Adopting this model across only 10% of Indonesia’s rice fields would enable the country to reduce its annual rice-sector emissions by approximately 15%, or 7 million tonnes of CO2e. Such a shift reinforces the role of biochar in achieving the dual goals of climate mitigation and enhanced agricultural yield.