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Biochar Acts as an Emerging Soil Amendment and Its Potential Ecological Risks: A Review

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Listed:
  • Yue Zhao

    (School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China)

  • Xin Li

    (School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China)

  • Yunyang Li

    (School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China)

  • Huanyu Bao

    (School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China)

  • Jia Xing

    (Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China)

  • Yongzhao Zhu

    (China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430063, China)

  • Jun Nan

    (School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China)

  • Guoren Xu

    (School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

Biochar, known as “Black Gold”, has become a novel approach with potential benefits for soil amendment, such as improving soil physicochemical properties, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing soil fertility. The previous research studies mainly focus on exploring different methods for the improvement of biochar enriched nutrients as fertilizers; however, the migration and transformation mechanisms of these nutrients induced by biochar are yet to be extensively investigated. This paper provides an overview of recent advances in the application and mechanisms of biochar for soil amendment focusing on soil properties and nutrients improvement. Biochar positively alters microbial-mediated reactions in the soil C and N cycles, i.e., mineralization of C and N, and N 2 fixation, thus enhancing maximizing C and N use efficiency and reducing the potential losses. Moreover, biochar provides reactive surfaces where P and K ions are retained in soil microbial biomass and in exchange sites, leading to increasing the availability of P and K to plants uptake. In addition, the toxic substances and potential ecological risks of biochar were also reviewed and discussed, thereby providing a baseline reference and guiding significance for future biochar applications as promising soil amendments.

Suggested Citation

  • Yue Zhao & Xin Li & Yunyang Li & Huanyu Bao & Jia Xing & Yongzhao Zhu & Jun Nan & Guoren Xu, 2022. "Biochar Acts as an Emerging Soil Amendment and Its Potential Ecological Risks: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-32, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2022:i:1:p:410-:d:1019274
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gonzalo Miguez-Macho & Ying Fan, 2021. "Spatiotemporal origin of soil water taken up by vegetation," Nature, Nature, vol. 598(7882), pages 624-628, October.
    2. Yuan, Shengnan & Tan, Zhongxin & Huang, Qiaoyun, 2018. "Migration and transformation mechanism of nitrogen in the biomass–biochar–plant transport process," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1-13.
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