Biochar’s effect on crop productivity and the dependence on experimental conditions—a meta-analysis of literature data

Liu, Xiaoyu; Zhang, Afeng; Ji, Chunying; Joseph, Stephen; Bian, Rongjun; Li, Lianqing; Pan, Genxing; Paz‐Ferreiro, Jorge

doi:10.1007/s11104-013-1806-x

Cited by 658 publications

(479 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Soils with a low CEC on crop yields with different types of biochar amendment and low C were associated with positive crop yield response to biochar application. Moreover, a meta-analysis on the impact of biochar on crop production showed a generally positive effect (~ 10 % increment on crop yields with different types of biochar amendment) (Jeffery et al, 2011;Biederman and Harpole, 2013;Liu et al, 2013). However, the extrapolation of these results to field applications is problematic because most studies were conducted over short periods and under environmentally controlled conditions.…”

Section: Research On Biochar and Crop Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the extrapolation of these results to field applications is problematic because most studies were conducted over short periods and under environmentally controlled conditions. For example, according to the meta-analysis by Liu et al (2013), greater responses were found in pot than in field experiments. In addition, Jeffery et al (2011) showed that biochar effects on crop yields could vary with crop species.…”

Section: Research On Biochar and Crop Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is also uncertain for how long the effects of biochar application are likely to last in a cropping system. Both Jeffery et al (2011) and Liu et al (2013) found that crop responses to biochar amendment were greater for dry land crops on acid and sandy-textured soils. Research that addresses the potential of biochar as a soil amendment in crop production systems under field conditions from a multiple year perspective is therefore required.…”

Section: Research On Biochar and Crop Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Biochar: Pyrogenic Carbon for Agricultural Use - A Critical Review

Novotny

Maia

Carvalho

et al. 2015

Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Solo

169

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Biochar (carbonized biomass for agricultural use) has been used worldwide as soil amendment and is a technology of particular interest for Brazil, since its "inspiration" is from the historical Terra Preta de Índios (Amazon Dark Earth), and also because Brazil is the world's largest charcoal producer, generating enormous residue quantities in form of fine charcoal and due to the availability of different residual biomasses, mainly from agroindustry (e.g., sugar-cane bagasse; wood and paper-mill wastes; residues from biofuel industries; sewage sludge etc), that can be used for biochar production, making Brazil a key actor in the international scenario in terms of biochar research and utilization). In the last decade, numerous studies on biochar have been carried out and now a vast literature, and excellent reviews, are available. The objective of this paper is therefore to deliver a critical review with some highlights on biochar research, rather than an exhaustive bibliographic review. To this end, some key points considered critical and relevant were selected and the pertinent literature "condensed", with a view to guide future research, rather than analyze trends of the past.

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Section: Research On Biochar and Crop Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Research On Biochar and Crop Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Research On Biochar and Crop Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Biochar: Pyrogenic Carbon for Agricultural Use - A Critical Review

Novotny

Maia

Carvalho

et al. 2015

Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Solo

169

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“…The previously cited metaanalyses have shown divergent results regarding improved crop productivity after applying biochar to soils [3,7]. Liu et al [33] reviewed published data from 59 pot experiments and 57 field experiments, concluding that crop productivity was increased by 11 % on average. Uzoma et al [34] reported the effects of biochar produced from cow manure on corn yield, nutrient uptake, and physicochemical properties when used on a sandy soil.…”

Section: Crop Productivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Health, Crop Productivity, Microbial Transport, and Mine Spoil Response to Biochars

et al. 2016

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Biochars vary widely in pH, surface area, nutrient concentration, porosity, and metal binding capacity due to the assortment of feedstock materials and thermal conversion conditions under which it is formed. The wide variety of chemical and physical characteristics have resulted in biochar being used as an amendment to rebuild soil health, improve crop yields, increase soil water storage, and restore soils/spoils impacted by mining. Meta-analysis of the biochar literature has shown mixed results when using biochar as a soil amendment to improve crop productivity. For example, in one meta-analysis, biochar increased crop yield by approximately 10 %, while in another, approximately 50 % of the studies reported minimal to no crop yield increases. In spite of the mixed crop yield reports, biochars have properties that can improve soil health characteristics, by increasing carbon (C) sequestration and nutrient and water retention. Biochars also have the ability to bind enteric microbes and enhance metal binding in soils impacted by mining. In this review, we present examples of both effective and ineffective uses of biochar to improve soil health for agricultural functions and reclamation of degraded mine spoils. Biochars are expensive to manufacture and cannot be purged from soil after application, so for efficient use, they should be targeted for specific uses in agricultural and environmental sectors. Thus, we introduce the designer biochar concept as an alternate paradigm stating that biochars should be designed with properties that are tailored to specific soil deficiencies or problems. We then demonstrate how careful selection of biochars can increase their effectiveness as a soil amendment.

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“…Biochar is the solid product that results from pyrolysis of organic materials (Verheijen et al 2010;Sohi et al 2010;Keiluweit et al 2010) having properties that depend on used technology and feedstock (Keiluweit et al 2010;Libra et al 2011;Enders et al 2012). How biochar affect soil properties and plant performance has been reasonably assessed (Crane-Droesch et al 2013;Jeffery et al 2011;Sohi et al 2010;Liu et al 2013). Many investigations have shown that the application of biochar to soil influences soil physico-chemical properties and improves soil functions such as water and nutrient holding capacity (Crane-Droesch et al 2013;Mukherjee and Lal 2013;Ajayi and Horn 2016;Jeffery et al 2011;Haider et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%