Biochar: Potential for countering land degradation and for improving agriculture

Barrow, Chris

doi:10.1016/j.apgeog.2011.09.008

Cited by 365 publications

(236 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…In the agricultural sector, the term biochar (BC) is acknowledged as a tool for soil management and carbon (C) sequestration (Barrow, 2012;Jeffery et al, 2015b;Smith, 2016). It is a solid material, rich in recalcitrant C, derived from anaerobic heating of biomass such as wood, manure, sludge, or crop residue (Lehmann and Joseph, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crop response to soils amended with biochar: expected benefits and unintended risks

et al. 2017

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Biochar (BC) from biomass waste pyrolysis has been widely studied due to its ability to increase carbon sequestration, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance both crop growth and soil quality. This review summarises the current knowledge of BC production, characterisation, and types, with a focus on its positive effects on crop yield and soil properties vs the unintended risks associated with these effects. Biochar-amended soils enhance crop growth and yield via several mechanisms: expanded plant nutrient and water availability through increased use efficiencies, improved soil quality, and suppression of soil and plant diseases. Yield response to BC has been shown to be more evident in acidic and sandy soils than in alkaline and fine-textured soils. Biochar composition and properties vary considerably with feedstock and pyrolysis conditions so much that its concentrations of toxic compounds and heavy metals can negatively impact crop and soil health. Consequently, more small-scale and greenhouse-sited studies are in process to investigate the role of BC/soil/crop types on crop growth, and the mechanisms by which they influence crop yield. Similarly, a need exists for long-term, field-scale studies on the effects (beneficial and harmful) of BC amendment on soil health and crop yields, so that production guidelines and quality standards may be developed for BCs derived from a range of feedstocks.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crop response to soils amended with biochar: expected benefits and unintended risks

et al. 2017

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“…These poor soil conditions result from the physical disruption of aggregates in the removal stage, and chemical and biological alterations associated with anoxic conditions in the storage stage during the extraction process (Tacey and Glossop 1980;Moreno-de las Heras et al 2008;Wick et al 2009). Many studies have identified the potential for biochar to improve plant growth on degraded and disturbed soils (Barrow 2012;Mekuria et al 2012;Kumar 2013). Mechanical incorporation of biochar into soils in the stripping, stockpiling or respreading stage has potential to improve mine rehabilitation; however, it requires testing under field conditions.…”

Section: Biochar For Mine Site Rehabilitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opportunities and constraints for biochar technology in Australian agriculture: looking beyond carbon sequestration

et al. 2014

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Abstract. The application of biochar technology for soil amendment is largely based on evidence about soil fertility and crop productivity gains made in the Amazonian Black Earth (terra preta). However, the uncertainty of production gains at realistic application rates of biochars and lack of knowledge about other benefits and other concerns may have resulted in poor uptake of biochar technology in Australia so far. In this review, we identify important opportunities as well as challenges in the adoption of biochar technology for broadacre farming and other sectors in Australia. The paper highlights that for biochar technology to be cost-effective and successful, we need to look beyond carbon sequestration and explore other opportunities to value-add to biochar. Therefore, some emerging and novel applications of biochar are identified. We also suggest some priority research areas that need immediate attention in order to realise the full potential of biochar technology in agriculture and other sectors in Australia.

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“…However, the use of chemical or inorganic fertilizers for improving the agricultural yield and soil fertility is not a sustainable approach; rather, it has been widely took in that the excessive use of inorganic fertilizers mainly nitrogen, has the ability to deteriorate soil environment and can also lead to the mineralization of organic matter [4,5]. Although the global population has been fed owing to these practices of green revolution for almost last half century but these practices have become environmentally destructive, unsustainable and are also unable to satisfy the needs of population [6]. So it is becoming important to restore the contaminated sites by using organic fertilizers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benefits of Biochar on the Agriculture and Environment - A Review

Rehman¹,

Razzaq²

2017

J Environ Anal Chem

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Biochar: Potential for countering land degradation and for improving agriculture

Cited by 365 publications

References 55 publications

Crop response to soils amended with biochar: expected benefits and unintended risks

Crop response to soils amended with biochar: expected benefits and unintended risks

Opportunities and constraints for biochar technology in Australian agriculture: looking beyond carbon sequestration

Benefits of Biochar on the Agriculture and Environment - A Review

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