Biochar influences on agricultural soils, crop production, and the environment: A review

Ahmed, Ahmed; Kurian, Jiby Kudakasseril; Raghavan, Vijaya

doi:10.1139/er-2016-0008

Cited by 68 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 92 publications

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“…The soil available P, available K, TOC and IC contents exhibited an increasing trend as the applied biochar amount increased in this study, which was consistent with the results of other studies (Ahmed et al, 2016). The biochar application could increase the available K content for its higher potassium content and bioavailability in red soil and yellow brown soil (Syuhada et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Biochar is rich in mineral nutrient content, and it has a distinct physical structure, which can improve soil nutrient absorption and availability and promote crop growth (Ahmed et al, 2016). The soil available P, available K, TOC and IC contents exhibited an increasing trend as the applied biochar amount increased in this study, which was consistent with the results of other studies (Ahmed et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

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Effects of biochar on nutrients and the microbial community structure of tobacco-planting soils

Gao

Wang²,

Shen

et al. 2017

J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr.

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The effect of rice straw biochar on soil nutrients was studied using a randomized block experimental design in a tobacco-planting field, and differences in soil bacterial and fungal community structures were studied using high-throughput sequencing technology. The results indicated that the soil pH, CEC, total organic carbon (TOC), inorganic carbon (IC), soil total nitrogen (total N), total potassium (total K), available phosphorus (available P), and available potassium (available K) contents were all increased with the biochar application. TOC and available P contents increased by 38.19% and 22.38%, respectively, in the T2 treatment (4500 kg . ha -1 biochar) compared to those in control (CK). But the soil dissolved organic carbon ( DOC) and available nitrogen (available N) content decreased by 13.07% and 9.89% in T2 treatments compared to the CK, respectively. Soil bacteria composition mainly consisted of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria, and the Proteobacteria proportion represented >50% of the bacterial community. The Actinobacteria proportion decreased, but Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria proportions increased with increasing biochar amounts. Fungi in tobaccoplanting soils were mainly Ascomycota (>75%), but this proportion decreased as the biochar amount increased.However, Zygomycota and Basidiomycota proportions increased with increasing biochar amounts. Therefore, biochar application could improve the soil nutrient status and affect microbial community structure. Rice straw biochar application promoted fungal community diversity in tobacco-planting soils.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Effects of biochar on nutrients and the microbial community structure of tobacco-planting soils

Gao

Wang²,

Shen

et al. 2017

J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr.

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“…Biochar amendment to the soil has become a very extensively studied subject, and numerous review articles analyzing the matter have been recently published [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. BC has proven to be an excellent way of introducing (as a carrier) and retaining (as an adsorbent) nutrients in the soil, sequestrating atmospheric C to it and improving its microbial activity.…”

Section: Biochar As a Soil Amendmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Biochar Properties and Their Utilization in Crop Agriculture and Livestock Production

2019

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When it comes to the use of biochar in agriculture, the majority of research conducted in the last decade has focused on its application as a soil amendment and for soil remediation. This treatment improves soil quality, increases crops yields, and sequestrates atmospheric carbon to the soil. Another widely studied aspect connecting biochar with agriculture is the composting processes of various agricultural waste with the addition of biochar. Obtaining the material via the pyrolysis of agricultural waste, including animal manure, has also been investigated. However, given the remarkable properties of biochar, its application potential could be utilized in other areas not yet thoroughly investigated. This review paper summarizes the last decade of research on biochar and its use in crop agriculture and livestock production. Knowledge gaps are highlighted, such as using biochar for the mitigation of odorous emissions from animal manure and by feeding the biochar to animals.

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“…Biochar has gained much attention in recent years as a popular and widely proposed soil amendment due to the relative ease of availability, the positive effects on the physiochemical properties of soils and the corresponding possible increase of soil fertility. Biochar benefits relevant to agriculture are decreasing soil bulk density [5,6], increasing soil water content (SWC) and water holding capacity (WHC) [7][8][9][10], decreasing saturated hydraulic conductivity (KS) [11][12][13], mitigating nitrogen leaching [14,15], lowering evaporation [16] and thus 2 of 15 increased water availability, and enhancing the bioavailability of key nutrients [17,18]. Biochar is further cited for its carbon sequestration potential and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions [15,17,19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Biochar Application Rates on the Hydraulic Properties of an Agricultural-Use Boreal Podzol

et al. 2019

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Boreal agriculture struggles with soils of lower agronomic value, most of which are sandy with a low water holding capacity (WHC) and prone to nutrient leaching. Biochar amendments are associated with positive effects on soil hydraulic properties and enhanced nutrient retention. However, these effects are strongly related to feedstock type and pyrolysis parameters and depend on biochar application rates and soil types. While biochar could increase the productivity of boreal agriculture by improving water and nutrient use efficiency, little is known about its effects on hydraulic processes in podzol. In this study, we investigated the effects of biochar rates (10, 20, 40, 80 Mg carbon ha−1) and maturity on soil hydrology for an agriculturally used Podzol in Labrador, Canada. The in-situ soil water content (SWC) and weather data over an entire growing season were analysed. Hydrus 1D simulations were used to estimate changes in water fluxes. SWC showed clear differentiation among storage parameters (i.e., initial, peak and final SWC) and kinetic parameters (i.e., rate of SWC change). Storage parameters and soil wetting and drying rates were significantly affected by biochar rates and its maturity. The magnitude of the changes in SWC after either wetting or drying events was statistically not affected by the biochar rate. This confirms that biochar mostly affected the WHC. Nevertheless, reductions in cumulative lower boundary fluxes were directly related to biochar incorporation rates. Overall, biochar had positive effects on hydrological properties. The biochar rate of 40 Mg C ha−1 was the most beneficial to agriculturally relevant hydraulic conditions for the tested Podzol.

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Biochar influences on agricultural soils, crop production, and the environment: A review

Cited by 68 publications

References 92 publications

Effects of biochar on nutrients and the microbial community structure of tobacco-planting soils

Effects of biochar on nutrients and the microbial community structure of tobacco-planting soils

A Review of Biochar Properties and Their Utilization in Crop Agriculture and Livestock Production

Effect of Biochar Application Rates on the Hydraulic Properties of an Agricultural-Use Boreal Podzol

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