Biochar impacts on soil physical properties and greenhouse gas emissions
Open accessAbstract
Biochar, a co-product of a controlled pyrolysis process, can be used as a tool for sequestering C in soil to offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and as a soil amendment. Whereas the impacts of biochar application on soil chemical properties are widely known, the research information on soil physical properties is scarce. The objectives of this review are to (i) synthesize available data on soil physical properties and GHG emissions, (ii) offer possible mechanisms related to the biochar-amended soil processes, and (iii) identify researchable priorities. Application rates of 1%–2% (w/w) of biochar can significantly improve soil physical quality in terms of bulk density (BD), and water holding capacity (WHC). However, little data are available on surface area (SA), aggregation stability, and penetration resistance (PR) of biochar-amended soil. While biochar amendment can initially accentuate the flux of carbon dioxide (CO2), the emission of GHGs may be suppressed over time. A 2-phase complexation hypothesis is proposed regarding the mechanisms of the interaction between soil and biochar.
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Higher temperatures, such as above 500 °C, produce biochar with a high C content, lower volatile matter, higher pH, large specific surface area and higher micropore volume.
“Higher temperatures, such as above 500 °C, produce biochar with a high C content, lower volatile matter, higher pH, large specific surface area and higher micropore volume.”
From Comparing straw, compost, and biochar regarding their suitability as agricultural soil amendments to affect soil structure, nutrient leaching, microbial communities, and the fate of pesticides (2021) · cites this paper as Mukherjee and Lal, 2013
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- Authors
- Mukherjee, A., & Lal, R.
- Affiliations
- The Ohio State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Mukherjee, Atanu
- Venue
- Agronomy
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2013-04-18
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 313-339
- ISSN
- 2073-4395 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1986747289
- Cited by
- 565
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 33 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 62 · 2020: 58 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 48 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 32.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Agronomy (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Management and Crop Yield
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Soil and Unsaturated Flow
- Keywords
- biochar, soil physical properties, greenhouse gas emissions, soil amendment, carbon sequestration, bulk density, water holding capacity, penetration resistance, soil surface area, CO2 flux, pyrolysis
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