Abstract: Soil, like human, must have good health to function well. This condition can only be achieved when its biological, chemical, and physical aspects are in their optimal capacity and in balance. Such requirements could be partially met by using biochar as a soil amendment. More specifically, biochar is a solid material, high (>50%) in organic carbon (C) content, and is produced by heating biomass, such as wood scraps, crop residues, or animal wastes, in an environment of elevated temperature (350–900 °C) with low or no oxygen. First, with properties such as large surface areas, numerous pores, and variable pore size, biochar can improve soil physical attributes, including aggregate stability, water holding capacity, root penetration, and reduced erosion. Second, given commonly alkaline pH value, abundant reactive surface functional groups, relatively high CEC, ash content, and labile C (5–10% of total fixed C), biochar can enrich soil fertility and soil organic matter. Lastly, with those desirable characteristics, application of biochar to soils, especially highly weathered, nutrient-poor, and/or acidic soils, has been proven to enhance soil microbial abundance, diversity, and activity. On the other hand, since climate and time also affect biochar properties and performance via oxidation by water and oxygen, long-term field experiments with different soil types and biochars should be actively conducted, keeping in mind that interactions between biochar and soil are inevitable, complex, and difficult to predict. Thus, biochar properties should be clearly characterized, and standardized, including pyrolysis process (e.g., fast, slow, highest treatment temperature, residence time); also feedstock (e.g., wood, crop residues, animal manure) should be clearly identified and publicized. Such clear specifications would help strengthen the use of biochar as a soil amendment to maintain and enhance soil health.
Publication Year: 2020
Publication Date: 2020-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 13
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