Biochar Acts as an Emerging Soil Amendment and Its Potential Ecological Risks: A Review

Yue Zhao, Xin Li (), Yunyang Li, Huanyu Bao, Jia Xing, Yongzhao Zhu, Jun Nan and Guoren Xu
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Yue Zhao: School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Xin Li: School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Yunyang Li: School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Huanyu Bao: School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Jia Xing: Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China
Yongzhao Zhu: China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430063, China
Jun Nan: School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Guoren Xu: School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-32

Abstract: Biochar, known as “Black Gold”, has become a novel approach with potential benefits for soil amendment, such as improving soil physicochemical properties, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing soil fertility. The previous research studies mainly focus on exploring different methods for the improvement of biochar enriched nutrients as fertilizers; however, the migration and transformation mechanisms of these nutrients induced by biochar are yet to be extensively investigated. This paper provides an overview of recent advances in the application and mechanisms of biochar for soil amendment focusing on soil properties and nutrients improvement. Biochar positively alters microbial-mediated reactions in the soil C and N cycles, i.e., mineralization of C and N, and N 2 fixation, thus enhancing maximizing C and N use efficiency and reducing the potential losses. Moreover, biochar provides reactive surfaces where P and K ions are retained in soil microbial biomass and in exchange sites, leading to increasing the availability of P and K to plants uptake. In addition, the toxic substances and potential ecological risks of biochar were also reviewed and discussed, thereby providing a baseline reference and guiding significance for future biochar applications as promising soil amendments.

Keywords: biochar; soil properties; nutrient improvement; ecological risks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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