Hyderabad, Nov.25 (RAHNUMA): In a breakthrough for sustainable agriculture, researchers at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) have developed an innovative method to convert waste Geranium leaves – usually discarded by the essential oil industry – into high-quality biochar that significantly improves soil fertility and plant growth.
The study, published in “Biomass and Bioenergy” (Elsevier, Nov 2025), was jointly led by Prof. Appa Rao Podile of the School of Life Sciences and Prof. Dr. Ing. VVSS Srikanth of the School of Engineering Sciences and Technology. Their interdisciplinary team engineered an efficient process to turn aromatic crop residues into a carbon-rich soil amendment.
Geranium-leaf biochar showed 65% carbon content, alkaline properties, and essential minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium. When applied to soil, it noticeably boosted the growth and nutrient uptake of Rosemary plants, proving its agricultural value. The process is also cost-effective, requiring only 9 kWh per batch, making the biochar cheaper than many commercial variants.
Supported by DBT, DST-FIST and IoE-UoH (Department of Science and Technology – Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure) and the Institution of Eminence (IoE-UoH) program), the project offers a scalable model for waste valorisation. The researchers say the innovation supports soil restoration, carbon sequestration, and India’s emerging circular bioeconomy.
Prof. Podile said the study shows “how industrial waste can become a sustainable soil enhancer”, while Prof. Srikanth noted that the engineering–life sciences partnership enabled a “holistic, environmentally impactful solution.”
