The potential utilisation of rice biomass for biochar to support sustainable rice farming development in Indonesia

¹ Research Center for Behavioral and Circular Economics, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia
² Research Center for Cooperative, Corporation, and People’s Economy, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia
³ Research Center for Macroeconomics and Finance, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia
⁴ Indonesian Center for Agricultural Socio-Economic and Policy Studies, Ministry of Agriculture, Bogor, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: ening.ariningsih@brin.go.id

Abstract

As a rice-producing country, Indonesia has abundant rice biomass in the forms of rice straw and rice husk (hull). Nevertheless, this resource has not been utilised to its fullest potential. This paper aims to assess the potential utilisation of rice biomass for biochar to support sustainable rice farming development through circular economics. A literature review method was applied in this paper, exploring the relevant articles published primarily in journals within the last ten years. The study results show that biochar serves as a soil amendment, and its application on agricultural land can improve soil properties and soil fertility, resulting in higher crop productivity and enhancing sustainability. Based on rice production data released by BPS-Statistics Indonesia, it is estimated that approximately 10.10 million tons of rice husk and 83.29 tons of dry rice straw are generated annually during 2018−2022, which can potentially be processed into 33.04 million tons of biochar. Applying 2 tons of biochar per hectare can increase rice productivity by at least 4%, resulting in a potential increase in rice production of at least 2.22 million tons annually. The government needs to facilitate farmers in rice-producing centres with biochar processing units using appropriate technology on a proper scale.