Biochar as a carbonaceous material to enhance soil quality in drylands ecosystems: A review

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 233; p. 116489
• Main Authors: Nascimento, Ícaro Vasconcelos do, Fregolente, Laís Gomes, Pereira, Arthur Prudêncio de Araújo, Nascimento, Carla Danielle Vasconcelos do, Mota, Jaedson Cláudio Anunciato, Ferreira, Odair Pastor, Sousa, Helon Hébano de Freitas, Silva, Débora Gonçala Gomes da, Simões, Lucas Rodrigues, Souza Filho, A.G., Costa, Mirian Cristina Gomes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.09.2023
• Subjects: alkalinity; application rate; arid lands; bioavailability; Biochar; bioeconomics; Bioeconomy; Biomass; bulk density; Drylands; economic sustainability; feedstocks; microbial carbon; nitrogen fertilizers; porosity; pyrolysis; sodium; soil; soil aggregation; Soil conditioner; Soil health; soil organic carbon; soil quality; soil treatment; Sustainability; sustainable development; water holding capacity; Soil conditioner; Sustainability; Soil health; Biomass; Biochar; Drylands; Bioeconomy
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116489

Drylands are fragile environments that should be carefully managed to improve their quality and functions to achieve sustainable development. Their major problems involve low availability of nutrients and soil organic carbon content. Biochar effect on soil is a joint response of micro to nano sized biochar and soil characteristics. In this review, we attempt to carry out a critical analysis of biochar application to enhance dryland soil quality. Correlating the effects identified from its soil application, we explored the subjects that remains open in the literature. The relation of composition-structure-properties of biochar vary among pyrolysis parameters and biomass sources. Limitations in soil physical quality in drylands, such as low water-holding capacity, can be alleviated by applying biochar at a rate of 10 Mg ha−1 also resulting in beneficial effects on soil aggregation, improved soil porosity, and reduced bulk density. Biochar addition can contribute to the rehabilitation of saline soils, by releasing cations able to displaces sodium in the exchange complex. However, the recovery process of salt-affected soils might be accelerated by the association of biochar with another soil conditioners. This is a promising strategy especially considering the biochar alkalinity and variability in nutrients bioavailability to improve soil fertilization. Further, while higher biochar application rate (>20 Mg ha−1) might change soil C dynamics, a combination of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer can increase microbial biomass carbon in dryland systems. Other aspect of biochar soil application is the economic viability of scale-up production, which is mainly associate to pyrolysis process being biochar production the costliest stage. Nevertheless, the supplying of feedstock might also represent a great input on biochar final costs. Therefore, biochar-based technology is a big opportunity to improve fragile environments such as drylands, integrating sustainable technologies with regional development. Considering the specificity of application area, it might be a model of sustainable agricultural practices protecting the environment in a bioeconomic perspective. •Biochar effect on soil is a join response of pyrolysis parameters and biomass source.•Biochar can improve water-holding, aggregation, bulk density, and soil porosity.•Biochar is an amendment complementary to soil fertilization in drylands.•Adsorption and leaching are mechanisms in saline soils rehabilitation using biochar.•Biochar improves the status and functions of microbial communities in dryland systems.