Abstract

Author:
Aashish Gyawali

Doi: 10.26480/efcc.02.2024.94.103

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced through the pyrolysis of organic materials, a process that involves heating biomass in the absence of oxygen. Acting like a sponge, biochar enriches the soil with nutrients, enhances water retention, and promotes microbial activity. Its unique properties, such as high porosity and nutrient retention capacity, improve soil structure and boost plant growth, thereby increasing agricultural productivity. Biochar is a potentially valuable soil amendment that enhances soil aggregation, porosity, bulk density, various hydrological parameters, soil organic carbon, pH, and more. It offers a promising solution to two of today’s most pressing challenges: soil degradation and climate change. This review provides an overview of biochar production methods, including both conventional and modern techniques, and examines the kinetics of biochar production, which helps optimize the pyrolysis process. Additionally, it explores the effects of biochar amendments on the physical, chemical, and biological attributes of soil. The review also highlights the importance of biochar in climate change mitigation, its impact on plant physiology, and its role in addressing various biotic and abiotic stresses, demonstrating how biochar can contribute to sustainable agriculture. Despite these benefits, the economic feasibility and attractiveness of biochar remain uncertain, as they are influenced by factors such as geographical context, production capacity, feedstock availability, and market prices. Nonetheless, biochar technologies hold significant potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, remediating contaminated soils, and supporting carbon sequestration, all of which could benefit greatly from its application.