Abstract
Biochar is the term given to biomass subjected to the process of change in the composition by the action of high temperatures. Advantages of biochar in soil quality have been reported, including amelioration of salinity effects. Salinity has a negative effect on soil physical properties and plant production by adversely affecting the process of plant growth, hence seed germination, nutrient uptake, and yield. Moreover, salt stress causes oxidative stress in plant and the reduction in antioxidant enzyme activities. Biochar is an amendment, which could decrease the negative effect of salt stress on crop growth and production. Application of biochar enriches mineral nutrients; improves the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological characteristics such as bulk density, hydrological properties, aggregate structure, ion exchange capacity, and microbial activity; and consequently enhances plant growth. Enhancing physical properties, biochar balances water holding capacity and air porosity in soils. Biochar promotes benefits in plant growth in saline soils through reduction in oxidation stress and in osmotic stress, lower production of phytohormones, improvement in stomatal density and conductance, improvement in seed germination, and the promotion of microbial activities. Biochar amendment can contribute to reduce salt stress in plants under saline condition due to its high salt adsorption capability.
Highlights
Biochar is the term given to biomass subjected to the process of decomposition or change in the composition by the action of heat at high temperatures
The results of this study demonstrated positive synergistic effects of biochar amendments on plant growth, plant nutrient uptake, soil nutrient contents, and soil biological properties
Different methods of producing biochar from the same source play a critical role in the expression of soil ecological effects, which underpin the assumption of a link between chemical and physical properties of biochar and enhanced plant nutrient acquisition, symbiotic performance, and plant stress tolerance
Summary
Biochar (charcoal) is the term given to biomass subjected to the process of decomposition or change in the composition by the action of heat at high temperatures. Biochar is obtained by pyrolysis of biomass at temperatures of 300–600°C and has a great potential to mitigate possible impacts of climate change, such as periods of excessive rain or severe droughts Because it is a thermally altered material, it degrades much more slowly, creating a large long-term carbon stock in the soil, being about 1500–2000 times more stable than non-pyrolyzed organic matter [1]. In this sense, the application of biochar as a sustainable soil corrective has been proposed as an attractive approach to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions due to its contribution to carbon sequestration and to improve crop productivity [3]. The objective of this chapter was to approach the role of biochar on amelioration of adverse salinity effects in soils
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