ABSTRACT
In recent years, biochar has received
great attention among researchers worldwide. This carbon-rich material,
mainly produced from residues from agriculture and forestry, holds a wide range
of properties, e.g. large specific surface area, high cation exchange capacity,
and substantial nutrient contents, that can have beneficial effects when added
to soils. This review is giving a brief introduction to biochar properties and
how feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, and time influence these properties. As
the majority of studies concentrate on the
soil amending effects of biochar, this review also provides an overview of how
biochar affects the chemical, physical, hydrological, and biological properties
of soils. For example, biochar addition to soils can raise the pH, increase the
organic carbon content, enhance nutrient retention, foster porosity, augment the water-holding capacity, and increase microbial
biomass. Consequently, biochar can contribute to soil fertility, increase
yields, help closing nutrient cycles, and thus help secure food safety in a region.
However, the knowledge about the long-term
effects is still limited and should be broadened by a more systematic testing of biochar effects in the future to help bring
the benefits of biochar into practice.