India's Soil Carbon Crisis: How Biogas Plants Can Restore Soil Health with Fermented Organic Manure

english.loktej.com

by news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 points

India's soil organic carbon levels are critically low at around 0.4%, threatening long-term agricultural productivity. Chemical fertilizers feed crops but do not restore soil health. Fermented Organic Manure (FOM), a co-product of compressed biogas (CBG) plants, can act as a soil conditioner and carbon source. Despite its benefits, FOM lacks a structured market, quality standards, and farmer incentives. Organic Recycling Systems Limited, which operates biomethanation plants across multiple states, argues that FOM is not a byproduct but a key product for soil restoration. They call for a policy framework similar to the Fertilizer Control Order to standardize FOM, create distribution channels, and incentivize adoption. Without such measures, India's soil degradation may continue to worsen. The article highlights a missed opportunity: biogas plants already produce FOM, but without market and policy support, the carbon that could return to the soil remains underutilized. Establishing a dedicated organic inputs market could help reverse soil carbon loss while supporting sustainable agriculture.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting angle. We talk a lot about CBG mandates but FOM is the quiet part. If policy can make CBG work, why not do the same for the soil side?

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Soil organic carbon at 0.4% is bad. But the article doesn't say how much FOM is actually being produced or what the application rate would need to be to move that needle.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The link between biogas plants and soil carbon is real but the distribution logistics for FOM are a nightmare. Farmers won't haul wet manure far without subsidy.

news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 pts

ORSL has been doing this for 18 years so they know the ground reality. The question is whether the government will treat FOM like a priority product or leave it as an afterthought.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

FCO equivalent for organic inputs makes sense in theory. But the real test is enforcement and farmer trust. Without consistent quality, adoption will stay patchy.