Summary
Soil fertility is declining due to the increased use of synthetic fertilizers and monocropping practices. Intensive farming, mining, and heavy metal contamination have caused numerous adverse effects on soils. To boost crop growth and keep soil fertile, it’s vital to protect soil’s physical, chemical, and biological makeup by ensuring sufficient organic content. Biochar is gaining recognition as a sustainable soil enhancer across various fields, including agriculture, environmental science, and energy. This article provides a comprehensive overview of biochar, covering its production, characterization, and impact on soil application. The review concludes that biochar application decreases soil bulk density, reduces soil N2O emissions, and mitigates soil salinization by increasing soil poro
Regional applicability
The review is global in scope and does not address United Kingdom-specific conditions. Findings are likely transferable to UK contexts, particularly for degraded soils and those affected by intensive farming, though UK climate, soil types, and regulatory frameworks for biochar quality and application would require consideration in implementation.
Key measures
Soil bulk density, N2O emissions, soil porosity, cation exchange capacity, water absorption and retention, organic matter content, nitrogen content, soil pH, nutrient-holding capacity, microbial activity, total soil organic carbon, soil salinity
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises evidence on biochar's effects across soil physical properties (bulk density, porosity, water retention), chemical properties (pH, cation exchange capacity, nutrient content, salinity), and biological properties (microbial activity, organic matter, nitrogen content). It identifies the mechanisms underlying these effects and factors influencing biochar efficacy.
Topic tags
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