Biochar to improve soil fertility. A review

• Published in: Agronomy for sustainable development Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 1 - 18
• Main Authors: Ding, Yang, Liu, Yunguo, Liu, Shaobo, Li, Zhongwu, Tan, Xiaofei, Huang, Xixian, Zeng, Guangming, Zhou, Lu, Zheng, Bohong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer Paris 01.06.2016; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag/EDP Sciences/INRA
• Subjects: adsorption; Agriculture; Agronomy; application rate; biochar; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Crop production; crop yield; feedstocks; leaching; Life Sciences; mineral soils; nutrient content; Nutrient loss; nutrients; plant growth; pyrolysis; Review Article; slow-release fertilizers; Soil erosion; Soil fertility; Soil Science & Conservation; surface area; Sustainable agriculture; Sustainable Development; temperature; Soil; Nutrient; Biochar; Fertility; Mechanism
• ISSN: 1774-0746; 1773-0155
• DOI: 10.1007/s13593-016-0372-z

Soil mineral depletion is a major issue due mainly to soil erosion and nutrient leaching. The addition of biochar is a solution because biochar has been shown to improve soil fertility, to promote plant growth, to increase crop yield, and to reduce contaminations. We review here biochar potential to improve soil fertility. The main properties of biochar are the following: high surface area with many functional groups, high nutrient content, and slow-release fertilizer. We discuss the influence of feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, pH, application rates, and soil types. We review the mechanisms ruling the adsorption of nutrients by biochar.