A review on influence of biochar amendment on soil processes and environmental remediation

Biochar is the thermal degradation product of biomass generated in an oxygen-limited environment under different pyrolysis conditions. Biochar characteristics are functions of the feedstock material and pyrolysis temperature. Depending on pyrolysis conditions biochar concentrates varying quantities of recalcitrant and labile carbon along with nutrients which in turn affect soil physiochemical properties and microbial processes. Biochar in soil balances carbon content encourages nitrogen fixation and solubilize phosphorus along with enhancing soil enzyme activity. It serves as a microhabitat for microorganisms present in soil thus influences the diversity, composition, and distribution of soil microbial communities by affecting their intra- and interspecific communication. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge about biochar characteristics, its interactions with soil, and associated biota and its role in soil remediation. In addition, this paper also discussed the factors affecting the capacity of biochar to adsorb organic pollutants following different mechanisms. Being an effective adsorbent due its high specific surface area, large porosity, and numerous surface functional groups biochar has been explored extensively in field of environment to remediate contaminated soils.

Automated summary

Biochar is a byproduct of biomass degraded under different pyrolysis conditions in an oxygen-limited environment. Its characteristics are influenced by the type of biomass and pyrolysis temperature. Depending on the pyrolysis conditions, biochar contains varying amounts of resistant and labile carbon, as well as nutrients, which affect soil properties and microbial processes. It acts as a microhabitat for soil microorganisms, influencing the diversity, composition, and distribution of soil microbial communities. This review provides an overview of biochar characteristics, its interactions with soil and associated biota, and its role in soil remediation. It also discusses the factors affecting biochar's capacity to adsorb organic pollutants using different mechanisms. Being an effective adsorbent, biochar has been extensively explored in environmental remediation of contaminated soils due to its high specific surface area, large porosity, and numerous surface functional groups.