The first half of 2025 brought strong results from our farm trials in India, with nine field trials across diverse crops yielding impressive outcomes. The pattern is clear: when you apply MASH Makes biochar to soil, you almost always get increased yields and healthier crops.

So, what’s behind the success? At MASH Makes, we produce biochar by heating crop waste at high temperatures without oxygen at our facility in Udupi, India. The result is a high-quality natural soil amendment that helps plants retain moisture, boost fertility, and thrive. The same process also produces renewable biofuel and locks carbon into the soil for hundreds of years—a triple win for farmers, energy users, and the climate.

Results from 35+ field trials on farms, plantations, and vineyards across India show that our biochar makes a real difference. The first half of 2025 was no exception, with scientific and observational findings revealing that farmers continue to get more from less—even under extreme weather conditions.

Here’s what we’ve seen so far this year:

2.5 years later, biochar is still boosting yields
A large-scale demonstration and replication trial with farmers in India’s Ambajogai region showed that biochar applied five seasons ago is still increasing yields. On chickpea crops in this semi-arid region, grain yields were 23% higher than in untreated control plots. Farmers also reported better soil moisture retention, improved plant growth, and more microbial activity.

Coffee plantations see healthier growth
For the past seven months, we’ve been working with farmers in Karnataka to learn how biochar can help coffee plantations grow more sustainably. So far, farmers say plants treated with MASH Makes biochar look healthier, with better growth, more branches, and denser foliage.

While trials are ongoing, signs like these often point to stronger roots and better nutrient uptake. We’re also monitoring coffee bean yields and expect full results later in 2025.

Grapevines with better water retention
Vineyard owners in Pune, Maharashtra, report that grape crops treated with MASH Makes biochar need less irrigation, retain more water, and show stronger canopy development. This is welcome news in a drought-prone region where water management is a constant challenge.

Yield gains across several crops
Third-season trials in Beed, Maharashtra, showed clear gains in chickpea, wheat, and onion crops.

• Chickpea: 14% yield increase
• Wheat: 7% yield increase
• Onion: 23% increase in bulb yield

Looking ahead: monsoon season and new trials
India has now entered its four-month monsoon season, a critical time that provides 70% of the country’s annual rainfall and irrigation for more than half its farmland. The Indian Meteorological Department is cautiously optimistic about steady rainfall this year.

Several biochar trials will continue through the second half of 2025, with new trials planned for cotton, soybean, green gram, pigeon pea, sugarcane, chili, tomato, ginger, and turmeric. We look forward to sharing the next round of results soon.

You can stay up to date on all our trial results here.

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