Our latest field trial in Ambajogai, Maharashtra, shows that MASH Makes biochar can boost cotton yields to levels comparable with efficient cotton-producing regions, like the southern United States. The trial, conducted during the 2024-2025 growing with our partners at MANAVLOK, demonstrated that biochar-treated plots significantly outperformed traditional organic farming methods, with the highest yield reaching 404 kg/acre—over five times higher than the control plot.

The trial setup

• Location: MANAVLOK, Ambajogai, Maharashtra, India

• Trial Duration: 1st season (2024-2025)

• Weather conditions: Optimal

Results: A breakthrough in yield

The numbers tell a powerful story. The control plot, which followed standard organic practices without biochar, yielded just 72 kg/acre. In contrast, the plot with the highest biochar application (P1) produced 404 kg/acre — comparable to the best-run farms in the US and Europe. Even the lower biochar doses saw substantial improvements, with P3 yielding 332 kg/acre and P4 producing 176 kg/acre.

In comparison, a neighbouring farmer followed inorganic farming methods and achieved just 200 kg/acre—significantly lower than the biochar-treated organic cotton fields. This suggests that biochar not only boosts organic yields but can also outcompete conventional methods without relying on synthetic inputs. Now, MASH Makes will continue the study to validate the results over multiple seasons.  

"Even with all the demonstration plots having light soil quality, the biochar-treated fields showed remarkable improvements,” says Irfan Sheik, head of Agriculture at MANAVLOK. “We are eager to continue our research and collaborate further to unlock its full benefits for farmers in the long run."

Why it matters

Cotton farming in the Global South faces mounting environmental challenges:

• Water-intensive crop: Producing a single cotton t-shirt requires around 2,700 litres of water.¹

• Heavy pesticide use: Cotton accounts for 16% of global insecticide consumption, harming ecosystems and depleting soil health.²

• India’s yield gap: The national average yield (480 kg/ha) is far below the global average (800 kg/ha).³

• Climate concerns: Cotton production emits 220 million tons of CO₂ annually due to fertilizers, irrigation, and pesticides.⁴

• Food security: Increasing cotton production on limited land would free up more land for cultivating food crops, contributing to food security.

Overall, MASH Makes biochar presents a sustainable way forward. By sequestering carbon, enhancing soil fertility, and increasing yields, its widespread adoption could transform the future of cotton farming. Scaling biochar application to just 50% of global cotton farms (~17 million hectares) could offset up to 50 million tons of CO₂ annually. With our ability to scale biochar production from agricultural residues, MASH Makes is well-positioned to meet this demand in the coming years, ensuring that farmers have access to a reliable, sustainable soil amendment at scale.

¹https://council.science/blog/the-environmental-impact-of-cotton-production/‍#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20United%20Nations,contributes%20signific‍antly%20to%20environmental%20stress

²https://tracextech.com/sustainability-in-cotton-industry/

³https://www.thehindu.com/business/falling-yields-diseases-driving-farmers-away-‍from-cotton/article68506007.ece#:~:text=India's%20cotton%20cultivation%20has%20declin‍ed,that%20their%20Australian%20counterparts%20earn

⁴https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/consumption/clothing/cotton-‍farming-water-consumption#:~:text=Cotton%20cultivation%20causes%20soil%20degradation,‍million%20tons%20of%20CO2%20annually