Chapter 29 - Biochars’ potential role in the remediation, revegetation, and restoration of contaminated soils

Abstract

The rise in human population and the demand for agricultural land have resulted in serious soil contamination and degradation problems. Recently, biochar with many distinctive characteristics has been extensively reported for its salutary role in soil management. This chapter reports on the findings of a rigorous and comprehensive study conducted on the current knowledge of biochar application for soil remediation, revegetation, and restoration. The main objectives of this study were aimed at highlighting the state-of-the-art research accomplishments on this issue. This chapter firstly introduces the preparation methods of biochar, its primary physiochemical properties, and modification methods. After that, the current progress of biochar on contaminated soils remediation has been summarized. Subsequently, the key roles biochar plays in soil rehabilitation has been discussed in detail. Moreover, the potential environmental risks related to biochar application have been investigated. In conclusion, biochar’s use as a potent soil amendment for soil remediation, revegetation, and restoration, and its immense potential for large-scale application in practice are explored. However, to facilitate the large-scale engineering application, some research gaps need to be taken into consideration. This research will provide better understanding of soil remediation, revegetation, and restoration of contaminated soils by biochar.