Agricultural and Biological Research

Comprehensive review on utilization of biochar in agriculture

Akshika Bhawariya*, Gayathri P. M and Shankar Lal Sunda

A solid, black, C-rich byproduct of the pyrolysis of biomass is called biochar. Biochar has long been recognized as a soil C sequester, but it has also recently been promoted for use in agricultural applications to improve soil quality; for this reason, its agronomic value is assessed. One of the main effects of intensifying agriculture is that ecosystem carbon reserves are reduced as a result of the release of carbon (C) into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO₂). Ten to twelve percent of the world's anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is necessary to address the difficulties posed by climate change. The process of pyrolysis, which turns biomass into biochar and stabilizes the carbon (C), is used to reduce elevated amounts of CO₂ in the atmosphere. The process of pyrolysis, which turns biomass into biochar, reduces atmospheric CO₂ levels by stabilizing the carbon (C) that is subsequently added to soil. Biochar has a high carbon content that can be difficult for it to break down, which means that it could stabilize carbon sequestration. While some research indicated that adding sulfur to mercury-polluted soil decreased the amount of mercury (Hg) that plants absorbed, other studies found that lowering the pH increased the solubility of heavy metals. As a result, the impact of sulfur on the availability of heavy metals in the soil is unclear and requires further investigation. Numerous recent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of biochar in lowering the uptake of heavy metals by plants.