Cited by 942Soil Carbon and Nitrogen DynamicsAgricultural Science and FertilizationThermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 285 of the 285 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 4 of the 130 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Biochar and its importance on nutrient dynamics in soil and plant

Open access

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review synthesizes how biochar affects nutrient dynamics in soil and plants, acting as a nutrient source, nutrient sink, and soil conditioner. It reports that outcomes depend strongly on feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, application rate, and soil type, with generally positive but variable effects on nutrient retention, leaching, gaseous losses, and crop nutrient uptake.

Key findings

  • Biochar nutrient contents vary widely: N ranges from 0.24 to 6.8%, and P from 0.005 to 5.9%; manure- and biosolid-based biochars generally contain more N and P than wood- and straw-based biochars. N content decreases with increasing pyrolysis temperature, while P and K contents increase due to ash concentration effects.
  • Biochar can reduce nutrient losses: NO₃⁻ leaching was reduced by 26% (Fig. 7), and a meta-analysis cited in the review showed about a 54% reduction in N₂O emissions with biochar application. N₂O-N emission factor and yield-scaled N₂O emissions were reduced by 16–67% and 14–53%, respectively (Li et al. 2017a). However, biochar could temporarily increase NH₃ volatilization by 19%.
  • Biochar alters soil properties relevant to nutrients: biochar pH ranges from 6.52 to 12.64 and correlates positively with pyrolysis temperature. Rice husk biochar at 3, 6, and 12 t ha⁻¹ increased water-stable aggregates by 10, 18, and 23%, respectively, at 0–10 cm in the first year; maize straw biochar at 10–60 t ha⁻¹ increased soil porosity from 42.5% to 48–56%.
  • Nutrient uptake and use efficiency responses are mostly positive but inconsistent: biochar increased N uptake by 11% (Fig. 7); P uptake increased by 23–2096% in some studies; NUE and PUE increased by 90 and 191%, respectively, with biochar up to 20 t ha⁻¹. Negative or neutral effects on N, Ca, Mg, and micronutrient uptake are also reported.

Methods

  • Narrative review synthesizing published literature on biochar production and characteristics, effects on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, biochar as a nutrient source, and impacts on nutrient reactions, leaching, gaseous emission, uptake, and nutrient use efficiency.
  • The paper organizes evidence in Tables 1–6 and conceptual figures, drawing on cited studies across feedstocks, pyrolysis temperatures, soils, and crops.
  • No new primary experiment or formal meta-analysis is described; the review does not state a systematic literature search or selection protocol.

Limitations

  • The paper states future research recommendations rather than a formal limitations section: long-term field studies are needed instead of pot or column studies; feedstock selection and application rate should be studied in relation to nutrient availability; methods to increase biochar N content should be considered; P availability across pyrolysis temperatures needs study; and biochar–microbe interactions affecting nutrient transformation require further work.
  • Evident from the text: as a narrative review, it does not describe systematic search or quantitative synthesis methods, and it repeatedly notes inconsistent effects of biochar on N availability, Ca, Mg, and micronutrient uptake depending on biochar type, rate, soil, and crop.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s42773-020-00065-z

Cites

285 of 285 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

104 Not checked yet · 26 No basis given · 22 Own interpretation · 2 Partly supported · 2 Own result · 1 Supported · 1 Supported so far · accuracy not yet measured

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Show all 108 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 43
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 7
50 of 50
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There is no review concerning the ability of biochar to retain multiple nutrients in soil through reducing gaseous and leaching losses and thus enhance plant growth.

    “However, there is no review concerning the ability of biochar to retain multiple nutrients in soil through reducing gaseous and leaching losses and, thus, enhance plant growth.”
1 of 1

Claims other papers make about this one

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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

5 of 5

Citations

Cites

Show all 285 references

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Lopez-Capel E et al (2016) Biochar properties, 1st edn. Tailor and Francis, Routledge
  2. Sohi S, Lopez-Capel E, Krull E, Bol R (2009) Biochar, climate change and soil: a review to guide future research vol 05. CSIRO

Cited by

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Items 701–800 of 942

Metadata

Authors
Hossain, M. Z., Bahar, M. M., Sarkar, B., Donne, S. W., Ok, Y. S., Palansooriya, K. N., Kirkham, M. B., Chowdhury, S., & Bolan, N.
Affiliations
  • Khulna University (BD)
  • University of Newcastle Australia (AU)
  • Lancaster University (GB)
  • Korea University (KR)
  • Kansas State University (US)
  • Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (BD)
Corresponding author
Bolan, Nanthi
Venue
Biochar
Published
2020-09-28
Volume
2
Issue
4
Pages
379-420
ISSN
  • 2524-7867 (ISSN-L)
  • 2524-7972
OpenAlex
W3091038929
Cited by
904
References
285
Citations by year
2026: 182 · 2025: 244 · 2024: 215 · 2023: 158 · 2022: 77 · 2021: 28
FWCI
43.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biochar (publishedVersion)
  • Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) (submittedVersion)
  • NOVA (University of Newcastle Australia) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Agricultural Science and Fertilization
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Fuel Technology › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
Keywords
nutrient dynamics, soil amendment, nutrient use efficiency, nitrogen retention, phosphorus availability, potassium, pyrolysis temperature, soil porosity, surface charge, soil pH, nutrient leaching, soil microbial activity, nutrient uptake, soil aggregate stability

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