Summary
This chapter reviews biochar—a carbon-rich solid from pyrolysis of organic, food industry, animal, and water processing waste—as an ecological alternative to synthetic fertilisers. The authors synthesise mechanisms by which biochar improves soil fertility through enhanced CEC and organic matter, stimulates soil biological activity, and supports crop nutrition. Whilst positioning biochar as a viable biofertiliser strategy aligned with agroecological principles, the authors acknowledge that standardisation of production methods and clearer definition of agricultural deployment constraints remain necessary for broader adoption.
UK applicability
The findings are broadly applicable to UK agroecosystems seeking to reduce synthetic fertiliser dependence. However, UK implementation would require localisation of biochar feedstock availability (e.g. food processing waste from UK sources) and alignment with organic standards and regulatory frameworks for soil amendments.
Key measures
Organic matter content; cation exchange capacity (CEC); soil microbiome activity; enzymatic activity; nutrient content (potassium and other minerals); crop nutrition outcomes
Outcomes reported
The chapter synthesises evidence on biochar's mechanisms of soil improvement, including enhanced organic matter content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), nutrient retention, and stimulation of soil microbial and enzymatic activity. It also examines biochar's role in crop nutrition and plant health, whilst identifying production and deployment constraints.
Topic tags
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