A Critical-Systematic Review of the Interactions of Biochar with Soils and the Observable Outcomes

Jackson Nkoh Nkoh, M. Abdulaha-Al Baquy, Shamim Mia, Renyong Shi, Muhammad Aqeel Kamran, Khalid Mehmood and Renkou Xu
Additional contact information
Jackson Nkoh Nkoh: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 821, Nanjing 210008, China
M. Abdulaha-Al Baquy: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh
Shamim Mia: Department of Agronomy, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki 8602, Bangladesh
Renyong Shi: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 821, Nanjing 210008, China
Muhammad Aqeel Kamran: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
Khalid Mehmood: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Poonch Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir 12350, Pakistan
Renkou Xu: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 821, Nanjing 210008, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-22

Abstract: Biochar research has experienced a significant increase in the recent two decades. It is growing quickly, with hundreds of reviews, including meta-analyses, that have been published reporting diverse effects of biochar on soil properties and plant performance. However, an in-depth synthesis of biochar–soil interactions at the molecular level is not available. For instance, in many meta-analyses, the effects of biochar on soil properties and functions were summarized without focusing on the specificity of the biochar and soil properties. When applied to soils, biochar interacts with different soil components including minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and nutrients, while it also changes soil microbial community structure and their occurrence. These different interactions modify soil physicochemical properties with consequences for dynamic changes in nutrient availability and, thus, plant performance. This review systematically analyzed biochar effects on soil properties and functions: (a) soil physical properties; (b) chemical properties; (c) biological properties; and (d) functions (plant performance, nutrient cycling, etc.). Our synthesis revealed that the surface properties of biochar (specific surface area and charge) and its associated nutrient content determine its role in the soil. At the same time, the extent of changes depends on soil properties, suggesting that both biochar and soil properties need to be considered for harvesting benefits of biochar application. Altogether, we believe our synthesis will provide a guide for researchers and practitioners for future research as well as large-scale field applications.

Keywords: biochar; soil physicochemical properties; soil aggregate formation; soil aggregate stability; soil fertility; pyrolysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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