IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i18p13421-d1235125.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Biochar as an Environment-Friendly Alternative for Multiple Applications

Author

Listed:
  • Radheshyam Yadav

    (Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda 151401, Punjab, India)

  • Wusirika Ramakrishna

    (Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda 151401, Punjab, India)

Abstract

The climate crisis and years of unsustainable agricultural practices have reduced soil fertility and crop yield. In addition, agricultural lands contribute more than 10% of greenhouse gases (GHGs). These concerns can be addressed by using biochar for carbon neutralization, environmental restoration, and agricultural management. Biochar has a role in nitrous oxide and methane gas emission mitigation from agricultural soil. New methods are needed to link belowground processes to functioning in multi-species and multi-cultivar agroecosystems. The intricate relationship between biochar and the composition of soil microbial communities, along with its impacts on functions within the rhizosphere, constitutes a highly perplexing and elusive subject within microbial genomics. The present review discusses how biochar can mitigate climate change, enhance carbon sequestration, and support crop productivity. Biochar could be a potential solution to mitigate soil microplastics and heavy metal contamination. Applying a biochar-based microbiome reduces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil. The current knowledge and perspectives on biochar–plant–microbial interactions for sustainable agriculture and ameliorating the adverse effects of climate change are highlighted. In this review, a holistic approach was used to emphasize the utility of biochar for multiple applications with positive and negative effects and its role in promoting a functional circular economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Radheshyam Yadav & Wusirika Ramakrishna, 2023. "Biochar as an Environment-Friendly Alternative for Multiple Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-23, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:13421-:d:1235125
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/13421/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/13421/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zouhair Elkhlifi & Jerosha Iftikhar & Mohammad Sarraf & Baber Ali & Muhammad Hamzah Saleem & Irshad Ibranshahib & Mozart Daltro Bispo & Lucas Meili & Sezai Ercisli & Ehlinaz Torun Kayabasi & Naser Ale, 2023. "Potential Role of Biochar on Capturing Soil Nutrients, Carbon Sequestration and Managing Environmental Challenges: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Yanan Xiao & Shihong Yang & Junzeng Xu & Jie Ding & Xiao Sun & Zewei Jiang, 2018. "Effect of Biochar Amendment on Methane Emissions from Paddy Field under Water-Saving Irrigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-13, April.
    3. Johannes Lehmann & John Gaunt & Marco Rondon, 2006. "Bio-char Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems – A Review," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 395-419, March.
    4. Nuno Nunes & Carla Ragonezi & Carla S.S. Gouveia & Miguel Â.A. Pinheiro de Carvalho, 2021. "Review of Sewage Sludge as a Soil Amendment in Relation to Current International Guidelines: A Heavy Metal Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    5. Mohamed E. A. El-sayed & Mohamed Hazman & Ayman Gamal Abd El-Rady & Lal Almas & Mike McFarland & Ali Shams El Din & Steve Burian, 2021. "Biochar Reduces the Adverse Effect of Saline Water on Soil Properties and Wheat Production Profitability," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-11, November.
    6. Nicholas Blenis & Nguyen Hue & Tai McClellan Maaz & Michael Kantar, 2023. "Biochar Production, Modification, and Its Uses in Soil Remediation: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    7. Ahmed Mosa & Mostafa M. Mansour & Enas Soliman & Ayman El-Ghamry & Mohamed El Alfy & Ahmed M. El Kenawy, 2023. "Biochar as a Soil Amendment for Restraining Greenhouse Gases Emission and Improving Soil Carbon Sink: Current Situation and Ways Forward," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-26, January.
    8. Nikolas Hagemann & Stephen Joseph & Hans-Peter Schmidt & Claudia I. Kammann & Johannes Harter & Thomas Borch & Robert B. Young & Krisztina Varga & Sarasadat Taherymoosavi & K. Wade Elliott & Amy McKen, 2017. "Organic coating on biochar explains its nutrient retention and stimulation of soil fertility," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Alaa Salma & Lydia Fryda & Hayet Djelal, 2024. "Biochar: A Key Player in Carbon Credits and Climate Mitigation," Resources, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-13, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shihong Yang & Xi Chen & Zewei Jiang & Jie Ding & Xiao Sun & Junzeng Xu, 2020. "Effects of Biochar Application on Soil Organic Carbon Composition and Enzyme Activity in Paddy Soil under Water-Saving Irrigation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Malyan, Sandeep K. & Kumar, Smita S. & Fagodiya, Ram Kishor & Ghosh, Pooja & Kumar, Amit & Singh, Rajesh & Singh, Lakhveer, 2021. "Biochar for environmental sustainability in the energy-water-agroecosystem nexus," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    3. Yaming Zhao & Xiangjun Wang & Guangwei Yao & Zhizhong Lin & Laiyuan Xu & Yunli Jiang & Zewen Jin & Shengdao Shan & Lifeng Ping, 2022. "Advances in the Effects of Biochar on Microbial Ecological Function in Soil and Crop Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-11, August.
    4. Lizhen Qin & Donghoon Shin, 2023. "Effects of UV Light Treatment on Functional Group and Its Adsorption Capacity of Biochar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-14, July.
    5. Md. Zonayet & Alok Kumar Paul & Md. Faisal-E-Alam & Khalid Syfullah & Rui Alexandre Castanho & Daniel Meyer, 2023. "Impact of Biochar as a Soil Conditioner to Improve the Soil Properties of Saline Soil and Productivity of Tomato," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    6. Lybbert, Travis & Sumner, Daniel, 2010. "Agricultural Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Developing Countries: Policy Options for Innovation and Technology Diffusion," Climate Change 320104, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD).
    7. Ana Castro & Nilcileny Da Silva Batista & Agnieszka E. Latawiec & Aline Rodrigues & Bernardo Strassburg & Daniel Silva & Ednaldo Araujo & Luiz Fernando D. De Moraes & Jose Guilherme Guerra & Gabriel G, 2018. "The Effects of Gliricidia -Derived Biochar on Sequential Maize and Bean Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-15, February.
    8. Huang, Yawen & Tao, Bo & Lal, Rattan & Lorenz, Klaus & Jacinthe, Pierre-Andre & Shrestha, Raj K. & Bai, Xiongxiong & Singh, Maninder P. & Lindsey, Laura E. & Ren, Wei, 2023. "A global synthesis of biochar's sustainability in climate-smart agriculture - Evidence from field and laboratory experiments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    9. Zhang, Zhikun & Zhu, Zongyuan & Shen, Boxiong & Liu, Lina, 2019. "Insights into biochar and hydrochar production and applications: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 581-598.
    10. Reijnders, L., 2009. "Are forestation, bio-char and landfilled biomass adequate offsets for the climate effects of burning fossil fuels?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 2839-2841, August.
    11. Kung, Chih-Chun & McCarl, Bruce A. & Cao, Xiaoyong, 2013. "Economics of pyrolysis-based energy production and biochar utilization: A case study in Taiwan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 317-323.
    12. Adam O’Toole & Christophe Moni & Simon Weldon & Anne Schols & Monique Carnol & Bernard Bosman & Daniel P. Rasse, 2018. "Miscanthus Biochar had Limited Effects on Soil Physical Properties, Microbial Biomass, and Grain Yield in a Four-Year Field Experiment in Norway," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-19, October.
    13. Jayanta Layek & Rumi Narzari & Samarendra Hazarika & Anup Das & Krishnappa Rangappa & Shidayaichenbi Devi & Arumugam Balusamy & Saurav Saha & Sandip Mandal & Ramkrushna Gandhiji Idapuganti & Subhash B, 2022. "Prospects of Biochar for Sustainable Agriculture and Carbon Sequestration: An Overview for Eastern Himalayas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-19, May.
    14. Haihong Song & Jianming Wang & Ankit Garg & Xuankai Lin & Qian Zheng & Susmita Sharma, 2019. "Potential of Novel Biochars Produced from Invasive Aquatic Species Outside Food Chain in Removing Ammonium Nitrogen: Comparison with Conventional Biochars and Clinoptilolite," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-18, December.
    15. Ashfaq, Asma & Khan, Zafar Iqbal & Ahmad, Kafeel & Ashraf, Muhammad Arslan & Hussain, Muhammad Iftikhar & Elghareeb, Eman M., 2022. "Hazard of selenium metal contamination in vegetables grown in municipal solid waste amended soil: Assessment of the potential sources and systemic health effects," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    16. Duku, Moses Hensley & Gu, Sai & Hagan, Essel Ben, 2011. "Biochar production potential in Ghana—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3539-3551.
    17. Suopajärvi, Hannu & Pongrácz, Eva & Fabritius, Timo, 2013. "The potential of using biomass-based reducing agents in the blast furnace: A review of thermochemical conversion technologies and assessments related to sustainability," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 511-528.
    18. Subhan Danish & Muhammad Zafar-ul-Hye & Shah Fahad & Shah Saud & Martin Brtnicky & Tereza Hammerschmiedt & Rahul Datta, 2020. "Drought Stress Alleviation by ACC Deaminase Producing Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Enterobacter cloacae , with and without Timber Waste Biochar in Maize," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-17, August.
    19. Jawad Ali & Ibadullah Jan & Hidayat Ullah & Shah Fahad & Shah Saud & Muhammad Adnan & Baber Ali & Ke Liu & Matthew Tom Harrison & Shah Hassan & Sunjeet Kumar & Muhammad Amjad Khan & Muhammad Kamran & , 2023. "Biochemical Response of Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus L.) to Selenium (Se) under Drought Stress," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-15, March.
    20. Kambo, Harpreet Singh & Dutta, Animesh, 2015. "A comparative review of biochar and hydrochar in terms of production, physico-chemical properties and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 359-378.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:13421-:d:1235125. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.