Biochar Application for Soil Quality Improvement: An Overview

Abstract

Soil as a renewable resource has a key role to play in sustainable crop production, soil management, and combating food insecurity. The overapplication of fertilizers in this regard has resulted in decreased soil health and productivity. Biochar application in this respect has received increasing attention of the scientific community due to its role in soil quality improvement. This is especially true in the face of global climate change and to the nature of biochar being a carbon (C)-rich compound. In this chapter, the potential of biochar to enhance soil quality attributes, particularly those pertaining to soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, is comprehensively reviewed. Special attention is directed toward the distinctive properties of biochars sourced from various feedstocks, elucidating their subsequent effects on soil quality. This sheds light on potential directions for future studies in this field.