Recent developments in biochar as an effective tool for agricultural soil management: a review.
In recent years biochar has been demonstrated to be a useful amendment to sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emission from the soil to the atmosphere. Hence it can help to mitigate global environment change. Some studies have shown that biochar addition to agricultural soils increases crop production. The mechanisms involved are: increased soil aeration and water-holding capacity, enhanced microbial activity and plant nutrient status in soil, and alteration of some important soil chemical properties. This review provides an in-depth consideration of the production, characterization and agricultural use of different biochars. Biochar is a complex organic material and its characteristics vary with production conditions and the feedstock used. The agronomic benefits of biochar solely depend upon the use of particular types of biochar with proper field application rate under appropriate soil types and conditions. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430073, People's Republic of China.|Department of Energy and Environment, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Sindh, Pakistan.
Mahmood
M
Laghari
Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRCCARE), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
Ravi
R
Naidu
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430073, People's Republic of China.
Bo
B
Xiao
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430073, People's Republic of China. huzq@hust.edu.cn.
Zhiquan
Z
Hu
Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Sindh, Pakistan.
Muhammad Saffar
MS
Mirjat
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430073, People's Republic of China.
Mian
M
Hu
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Sindh, Pakistan.
Muhammad Nawaz
MN
Kandhro
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430073, People's Republic of China.
Zhihua
Z
Chen
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430073, People's Republic of China.
Dabin
D
Guo
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, 70060, Sindh, Pakistan.
Qamardudin
Q
Jogi
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430073, People's Republic of China.|Al-Mustansiryiah University, College of Engineering, Baghdad, Iraq.
Zaidun Naji
ZN
Abudi
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430073, People's Republic of China.
Saima
S
Fazal
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry; D057231:Climate Change; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D005308:Fertilizers; D017752:Greenhouse Effect / Q000517:prevention & control; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014867:Water
D005308:Fertilizers; D012987:Soil; C540010:biochar; D014867:Water; D002606:Charcoal; D002244:Carbon
fast-pyrolysis biochar; plant nutrients; soil management; soil water retention