Biochar Application Research Articles

The Application of Invasive Plant-Derived Biochar in Controlling Plant Invasion by Removing its Allelochemicals

Invasive plants seriously threaten the natural ecosystem and human health due to their strong ecological adaptability, reproduction, and diffusion ability, so that the utilization and control of invasive plants have attracted much attention. Biochar is widely used in environmental and soil remediation owing to its high aromaticity and anti-degradation ability. However, the research on biochar prepared by invasive plants to adsorb their own allelochemicals is still scarce, which may limit the application of biochar in invasion prevention and control. In this paper, the application of invasive plant-derived biochar (IPB) and the adsorption effect and mechanism of IPB and its composites on organic and inorganic pollutants are reviewed, which may enhance our understanding for the utilization of invasive plants and the restoration of local plant communities.

A Review: Progress in the Mitigation of Soil Continuous Cropping Obstacles by Biochar Application in Agricultural System

Under the dual pressure of agricultural economic development and limited land resources, the continuous cultivation in same area has been a mainstream pattern. The continuous cropping obstacle has seriously impaired the soil physicochemical properties and soil microflora, hindering the sustainable development of agriculture. Various strategies have been used to mitigate the negative effects caused by continuous cropping; however, they cannot be solved effectively. Recently, biochar, as a new type of soil conditioner, has been found to be able to utilize its special physicochemical properties and adsorption properties to improve soil quality conditions. Besides, biochar application is one of the effective methods to reduce the obstacles of soil continuous cropping. In this paper, we reviewed the causes of soil continuous cropping obstacles and their effects on soil and plant, and emphatically analyzed the regulatory role and potential limitations of biochar in alleviating soil continuous cropping obstacles. For example, the type of raw material, pyrolysis conditions of biochar and differences in soil types would yield different effects on the efficiency of biochar on soil continuous cropping obstacles mitigation, Furthermore, other influenced factors, such as the adsorption of biochar on root secretion, the interactions among plants, soils, and microorganisms, need to be investigated. This article provides theoretical support for the application of biochar in in alleviating soil continuous cropping obstacles.

Response of wheat to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation and biochar application: Implications for soil carbon sequestration

The sequestration of atmospheric CO₂ in soil is suggested as an effective climate change mitigation strategy. Biochar application shows promise in this regard, while the role of fungi in soil carbon cycling and sequestration is also under investigation. Using a novel high-throughput plant phenomics approach, we explore the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and biochar application on wheat growth and soil carbon, guided by one of the leading global carbon credit schemes. Wheat was successfully colonised by AMF, achieving an average root length colonisation of 35.9%. We uncover an indirect fungal-mediated pathway to soil carbon sequestration, with mycorrhizal plants generating more biomass across all soil treatments without yield penalties, suggesting colonised plants deliver more plant derived carbon to the soil, potentially leading to long-term soil carbon gains. Conversely, fungal-driven carbon loss occurred, significantly reducing soil carbon accumulation in unamended soil, but not in biochar-amended soil, suggesting that biochar moderates fungal activity and positively impacts the soil carbon balance. While both biochar and AMF enhance plant growth, their direct effects on soil carbon are complex. Although biochar did not significantly increase soil carbon stocks beyond its own contribution, its ability to regulate fungal activity could play an important role in influencing soil carbon sequestration.

Experimental Design, Statistical Analysis, and Modeling of the Reduction in Methane Emissions from Dam Lake Treatment Using Agro-Industrial Biochar: A New Methane Capture Index

This study aimed to reduce the methane (CH4) emissions originating from dam lake treatment using malt dust-derived biochar, which is an agro-industrial byproduct of the brewery industry. Optimum operating and water quality parameters for CH4 reduction were determined using statistical analyses based on the Box–Behnken design method. Also, a Monte Carlo simulation was performed to determine the correlation between CH4 emissions and operating parameters. According to the simulation, dissolved oxygen (DO) and the oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) had the highest correlation with CH4 emissions, with values of 92.03% and 94.57%, respectively. According to the Box–Behnken design methodology, the optimum operating parameters were 4 mg/L of dissolved oxygen, −359 mV of ORP, and 7.5 pH for the minimum CH4 emissions. There was a reported reduction of up to 19.4% in CH4 emissions for the dam lake treatment using malt dust-derived biochar. Finally, a new methane capture index, based on the biochar application (MCI), was developed and validated. The largest methane capture capacity was related to the malt dust-derived biochar produced at the lowest temperature (M1).

Response of β-glucosidase enzyme activity of soil to biochar applications in a crop rotation at Blacksea agroecosystem

The use of biochar has emerged a potentially effective approach to improve soil function and promote crop performance. However, the specific impact of biochar on β-glucosidase enzyme activity (BGA) within crop rotation systems in the Black Sea agroecosystem requires further investigation. This study was conducted to determine the effects of rice husk biochar (RHB) and poultry manure biochar (PMB) on BGA in soils. Six biochar doses (0-control, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 t ha-1) were applied at the beginning of two wheat-cabbage red pepper rotation periods. The mean BGA at second rotation (73.71 µg pNP g-1) was significantly lower compared to the BGA of the first period (93.39 µg pNP g-1). The BGA value in control (94.51 µg pNP g-1) decreased with increasing biochar application doses (76.05 µg pNP g-1, 50 t ha-1) treatment. The mean BGA value in PMB treatment was slightly higher than that of RHB, but it was not statistically different between two biochar types. However, the decrease in BGA value (25.0%) in the highest RHB dose compared to control was more than two-fold compared to the decrease in PMB application (12.1%). The difference in carbon/nitrogen ratio between RHB and PMB can be attributed to the variation in BGA values observed at the application of same biochar doses. The decrease in BGA over the course of the two rotation cycles implies that biochar may have a long-term influence on soil carbon cycling.

Remediation of multi-metal(loid) contaminated soils using Mn-modified biochar: Mechanistic insights and influencing factors

Mn-modified biochar could impact soil quality and metal(loid) migration in contaminated soils. However, the remediation efficiency, mechanism, and influencing factors of Mn-modified biochar on multi-metal(loid) contaminated soils were largely unknown. In this study, three Mn-modified biochar were prepared by using MnCl2-impregnated rubber, tobacco rod, and coconut shell biochar, respectively. The remediation efficiency of Mn-modified biochar on Pb, As, Cd, Cu, and Zn contaminated soil was also compared. Our data revealed that the addition of Mn-modified biochar increased the effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), organic matter (OM), alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen (AHN), and the mobility of the nutrient Zn in the soil. Furthermore, Mn-modified rubber biochar and Mn-modified coconut shell biochar reduced acid extractable or Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetic Acid (DTPA) leached Pb, As, Cd, and Cu However, Mn-modified tobacco rod biochar increased the acid extractable or DTPA leached Pb, Cd, and Cu. The study showed that three Mn-modified biochars could effectively improve soil physicochemical properties and significantly increase soil nutrient activity. Mn-modified rubber and coconut shell biochar can effectively immobilize metal(loid)s and reduce their damage to soil. However, the Mn-modified tobacco rod biochar instead increased the mobility of metal(loid)s. The results indicate that feedstock is an important factor influencing the application of Mn-modified biochar and should be considered in the production.

Application and Research Progress of Biochar in Environment Pollution Control

Biochar is a carbon-rich material with a wide range of raw materials, low cost, and environmental friendliness. It has a range of advantages such as high porosity and rich surface functional groups. Recently, the application of biochar to control environmental pollution and to improve soil quality have become increasingly widespread. To systematically summarize the application status, efficiency, shortage and development prospects of biochar in environmental pollution control, this article concludes the viewpoints from resent research of biochar materials in marine oil, soil pollution control and industrial wastewater, and made the prospect of biochar materials application in the environmental pollution control and remediation.

Effects of Different Doses of Biochar Applications on Yield and Nutrient Element Concentrations on Wheat Grown under Salt Stress

In the study, the effects of different doses of biochar applications on the yield and nutrient uptake of wheat grown under salt stress in greenhouse conditions were investigated. The study was conducted in 2 kg capacity plastic pots with three replications using a random plot design. In the study, salt doses were applied as 0 dS m-1, 6 dS m-1 and 12 dS m-1 (in the form of NaCl), and biochar doses (BC) were applied as 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% W/W. At the end of the study, the dry matter yield of wheat plant and sodium (Na), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) concentrations were determined. Study results showed that BC applications increased the dry matter production of the plant, and the highest was obtained with 2% BC application at 6 6 dS m-1 salt dose, 1.85 g pot-1. However, due to increasing salt doses, BC applications had no effect on the phosphorus and potassium concentrations of the wheat plant, except for calcium, and decreases were determined in the average values. In the study, although all BC applications increased iron, zinc, manganese and copper concentrations compared to the control, when evaluated in terms of average values, decreases were detected in the microelement concentrations of the plant due to increasing salt doses

Changes in the soil microbial community 5 years after the application of sewage sludge biochar to soils cultivated with corn

AbstractBackgroundSewage sludge biochar has been widely used in agriculture for various purposes; however, knowledge about its residual effect on the soil microbial community is limited.AimsThis study aimed to evaluate changes in the microbial community 5 years after the application of sewage sludge biochar.MethodsBiochar was produced from sewage sludge obtained at a wastewater treatment pyrolyzed at 300°C (Biochar300) and 500°C (Biochar500). Both biochar treatments were applied in corn fields for two growing seasons (2014/2015; 2015/2016). Biochar was not applied from the third (2016/2017) to the seventh (2020/2021) growing season to assess the residual effect. Soil samples were collected after harvesting in 2020/2021 growing season, therefore in the fifth year subject to the residual effects of biochar. The microbial community was evaluated by accessing bacterial and fungal groups using DNA techniques. Amplicon sequencing analysis was performed with the samples by Illumina MiSeq 250 bp.ResultsAt genus level, the Lachnospira, Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, Epulopiscium, and Parabacteroides were affected by Biochar500. Furthermore, at upper levels of taxonomy, this biochar treatment increased the relative abundance of bacterial classes Clostridiaceae and Bacteroidia and the fungal families Chaetomiaceae and Aspergillaceae. Concerning the relationship between microbial community and soil chemical properties, soil phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) were significantly affected by biochar treatments within the bacterial community; the fungal ones affected significantly soil P and potential acidity (H + Al).ConclusionsEven under the residual effect of 5 years, the application of biochar altered the microbial community on corn plantation, especially concerning on the richness and the abundance of some groups. Biochar500 was the most responsive among the treatments.

Effect of biochar application on physiochemical properties and nitrate degradation rate in a Siliciclastic Riverine Sandy soil

This study investigated the efficacy of biochar as a soil amendment for enhancing soil physicochemical properties and solute transport dynamics, with implications for agricultural sustainability and environmental stewardship. Batch laboratory experiments and column studies were conducted to assess the effects of biochar application on soil parameters and solute transport under saturated conditions. The saturation soil extraction approach was employed in batch leaching tests, while column experiments replicated subsurface conditions. Transport modeling using CXTFIT 2.1 elucidated solute dispersion dynamics in biochar-amended soils. Batch experiments revealed significant alterations in soil pH, electrical conductivity, and nutrient release following biochar addition. Biochar exhibited adsorption capacity for fluoride ions and released dissolved organic carbon, highlighting its potential for soil carbon sequestration and microbial activity. Column studies demonstrated enhanced solute dispersion and increased microbial activity in biochar-amended soils, as evidenced by changes in breakthrough curves and degradation rates of nitrate. Indeed, nitrate first-order degradation coefficients were 9.08E-06 for the column with only sandy soil, 3.09E-05 and 1.47E-04 for the columns with minimum and maximum doses of biochar respectively. Biochar application significantly influenced soil physicochemical properties and solute transport dynamics, with potential implications for nutrient management and contaminant attenuation in agricultural systems. Despite limitations in laboratory-scale experiments, this research provides valuable insights into biochar-soil interactions. It underscores the need for further investigation under field conditions to validate findings and optimize biochar management practices for sustainable soil and environmental management.

Phosphorus-loaded coconut biochar: A novel strategy for cadmium remediation and soil fertility enhancement

The management of cadmium (Cd) contamination in soils poses a significant environmental challenge. This study investigates the effectiveness of phosphorus (P)-loaded coconut biochar, synthesized at various pyrolysis temperatures (450°C, 500°C, 550°C, and 600°C), in immobilizing Cd and enhancing P availability in soil environments. The biochar underwent a series of treatments including activation and P enrichment, followed by incubation trials to evaluate its performance in Cd immobilization and P bioavailability enhancement across varying soil concentrations (0.5 %, 1.0 %, and 2.0 %) over time periods of 15, 30, and 45 days. Remediation progress was monitored using phytotoxicity assessments with radish (Raphanus sativus) root length as a bioindicator, supplemented by urease activity analyses. Notably, the activation process increased the P loading capacity of biochar produced at 450°C, 500°C, and 550°C by 54.6 %, 72.4 %, and 51.8 %, respectively, while reducing the P retention capacity of biochar prepared at 600°C by 31.0 %. The biochar activated at 550°C presented the highest efficiency in remediating Cd-contaminated soils. Key findings indicate that the enhanced specific surface area and oxygenated functional group content of the activated biochar facilitated Cd adsorption and P uptake. The P-loaded biochar exhibited a substantial adsorption capacity for Cd, particularly effective at lower concentrations, rendering it highly suitable for soil remediation purposes. Additionally, the study revealed that the application of biochar led to an increase in soil pH, resulting in precipitation of Cd as hydroxide species and formation of insoluble complexes with phosphate ions, thereby reducing its bioavailability. In summary, incorporating P-loaded biochar into soil significantly improved soil quality and enhanced Cd passivation in contaminated soils. The utilization of biochar produced at 550°C, which exhibited optimal performance, suggests a practical and sustainable approach for soil remediation. Future research endeavors should prioritize the refinement of the biochar production process to enhance cost-effectiveness while maintaining high P loading efficiency.

Application of biochar and selenium together at low dose efficiently reduces mercury and methylmercury accumulation in rice grains

Irrespective of cost and ecological risk, literatures have reported that both biochar and selenium (Se) alone at high application rate exhibited positive effects on decreasing rice mercury (Hg) uptake in high Hg contaminated paddy soil. In this study, we investigated whether biochar and Se together at low dose could efficiently reduce the rice grain Hg and MeHg accumulation in the slight Hg-contaminated soil. Compared with control (CK), the Hg concentration of grains in the BC3, Se0.5, and BC3 + Se0.5 treatments decreased by 5.4 %, 38.3 %, and 48.5 %, respectively. Co-application of biochar and Se also decreased the methylmercury (MeHg) concentration in rice grains by 29.1–91.6 %. The decrease of Hg and MeHg level in rice grains for biochar and Se treatments could be attributed to the following mechanisms: (1) high Hg (primarily inorganic Hg) adsorption on biochar through its high hydroxyl groups and large specific surface area; (2) Increased dissolved organic carbon and cysteine contents in pore water after biochar application, which reduced the availability of soil Hg through complexation; (3) Decreased bioavailability of Hg in soil due to the formation of HgSe precipitation which inhibited Hg uptake and translation by rice plant; (4) Both biochar and Se facilitated the reduction of MeHg in soil. Our results indicate that co-application of biochar and Se at low dose is a promising method to effectively mitigate Hg accumulation in rice grains from the slight Hg-contaminated soil.

Co-application of Parthenium biochar and urea effectively mitigate cadmium toxicity during wheat growth

Environmental contamination by cadmium (Cd), a highly toxic heavy metal, poses significant health risks to plants and humans. Biochar has been effectively used to promote plant growth and productivity under Cd stress. This study presents an innovative application of biochar derived from the invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus to promote plant growth and productivity under Cd stress. Our study includes detailed soil and plant analyses, providing a holistic perspective on how biochar and urea amendments influence soil properties, nutrient availability, and plant physiological responses. To address these, we established seven treatments: the control, Cd alone (5 mg kg−1), biochar alone (5 %), urea alone (3 g kg−1), biochar with Cd, urea with Cd, and a combination of biochar and urea with Cd. Cd stress alone significantly reduced plant growth indicators such as shoot and root length, fresh and dry biomass, chlorophyll content, and grain yield. However, the supplementation of biochar, urea, or their combination significantly increased shoot length (by 48%, 34%, and 65%), root length (by 73%, 46%, and 70%), and fresh shoot biomass (by 4%, 31%, and 4%), respectively. This improvement is attributed to enhanced soil properties and improved nutrient absorption. The biochar–urea combination also enhanced Cd tolerance by improving total chlorophyll content by 14 %, 13 %, and 16 % compared to the control, respectively. Similaly, these treatments significantly (p < 0.05) boosted the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase by 51 %, 30 %, and 51 %, respectively, thereby mitigating oxidative stress as a defensive mechanism. The Cd tolerance was improved by biochar, urea, and their combinations, which reduced Cd content in the shoots (by 60.5 %, 38.9 %, and 51.3 %), roots (by 47.5 %, 23.9 %, and 57.6 %), and grains (by 58.1 %, 30.2 %, and 38.3 %) relative to Cd stress alone, respectively. The synergistic effects of biochar and urea are achieved through improved soil properties, nutrient availability, activating antioxidant defense mechanisms, and minimizing the accumulation of metal ions in plant tissues, thereby enhancing plant defenses against Cd stress. Conclusively, converting invasive Parthenium weed into biochar and combining it with urea offers an environmentally friendly solution to manage its spreading while effectively mitigating Cd stress in crops.

Prediction of Biochar Adsorption of Uranium in Wastewater and Inversion of Key Influencing Parameters Based on Ensemble Learning.

With the rapid development of industrialization, the problem of heavy metal wastewater treatment has become increasingly serious, posing a serious threat to the environment and human health. Biochar shows great potential for application in the field of wastewater treatment; however, biochars prepared from different biomass sources and experimental conditions have different physicochemical properties, resulting in differences in their adsorption capacity for uranium, which limits their wide application in wastewater treatment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to deeply explore and optimize the key parameter settings of biochar to significantly improve its adsorption capacity. This paper combines the nonlinear mapping capability of SCN and the ensemble learning advantage of the Adaboost algorithm based on existing experimental data on wastewater treatment. The accuracy of the model is evaluated by metrics such as coefficient of determination (R2) and error rate. It was found that the Adaboost-SCN model showed significant advantages in terms of prediction accuracy, precision, model stability and generalization ability compared to the SCN model alone. In order to further improve the performance of the model, this paper combined Adaboost-SCN with maximum information coefficient (MIC), random forest (RF) and energy valley optimizer (EVO) feature selection methods to construct three models, namely, MIC-Adaboost-SCN, RF-Adaboost-SCN and EVO-Adaboost-SCN. The results show that the prediction model with added feature selection is significantly better than the Adaboost-SCN model without feature selection in each evaluation index, and EVO has the most significant effect on feature selection. Finally, the correlation between biochar adsorption properties and production parameters was discussed through the inversion study of key parameters, and optimal parameter intervals were proposed to improve the adsorption properties. Providing strong support for the wide application of biochar in the field of wastewater treatment helps to solve the urgent environmental problem of heavy metal wastewater treatment.

Effect of biochars on the concentration of plant-available elements in the soil

To solve environmental problems and reduce economic costs, it is necessary to improve mineral fertilizer application systems by developing and introducing new technologies, including the use of biochars. Due to the lack of effective monitoring of soil changes, it is difficult to adjust fertilizer application rates. This determines the importance of information on the elemental composition of biochar ameliorants used to reduce the mobility of heavy metals in the soil. The use of biochar for remediation of contaminated soils is based on its ability to immobilize heavy metals and organic pollutants. In this work biochars were used, obtained by slow pyrolysis of organic materials of different types: pine sawdust, cattle manure, wheat straw, pine nut shells and brewer's grains. The effect of biochars (biochar application at a dose of 10 t ha−1) on the concentration of 13 elements (C, N, K, P, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd, Co) in the soil was analyzed. The data collected after growing of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on the sod-podzolic soils were analyzed. It has been established that the heavy metals concentrations in the studied soils reclaimed with biochars are significantly lower than the maximum allowable concentrations for soils (MAC). The content of lead (Pb) in soils treated with biochars is 9 or more times lower than the MAC level, and biochar, produced from manure, significantly reduces the concentration of this metal in the soil.

Enhanced Tetracycline Adsorption Using KOH-Modified Biochar Derived from Waste Activated Sludge in Aqueous Solutions.

Antibiotic pollution poses a serious environmental concern worldwide, posing risks to ecosystems and human well-being. Transforming waste activated sludge into adsorbents for antibiotic removal aligns with the concept of utilizing waste to treat waste. However, the adsorption efficiency of these adsorbents is currently limited. This study identified KOH modification as the most effective method for enhancing tetracycline (TC) adsorption by sludge biochar through a comparative analysis of acid, alkali, and oxidant modifications. The adsorption characteristics of TC upon unmodified sludge biochar (BC) as well as KOH-modified sludge biochar (BC-KOH) were investigated in terms of equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics. BC-KOH exhibited higher porosity, greater specific surface area, and increased abundance of oxygen-based functional groups compared to BC. The TC adsorption on BC-KOH conformed the Elovich and Langmuir models, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 243.3 mg/g at 298 K. The adsorption mechanisms included ion exchange, hydrogen bonding, pore filling, and electrostatic adsorption, as well as π-π interactions. Interference with TC adsorption on BC-KOH was observed with HCO3-, PO43-, Ca2+, and Mg2+, whereas Cl-, NO3-, and SO42- ions exhibited minimal impact on the adsorption process. Following three cycles of utilization, there was a slight 5.94% reduction in the equilibrium adsorption capacity, yet the adsorption capacity remained 4.5 times greater than that of unmodified sludge BC, underscoring its significant potential for practical applications. This research provided new insights to the production and application of sludge biochar for treating antibiotic-contaminated wastewater.

A novel application of waste poplar sawdust biochar: preparation of a shape-stable composite phase-change material with excellent thermal energy-storage performance

ABSTRACT The practical application of phase-change materials (PCMs) is limited due to leakage and low thermal conductivity. In this study, waste poplar sawdust (PW) and its derived biochar (PWC) were used as encapsulation materials, with stearic acid (SA) as the phase-change material, to successfully prepare composite phase-change materials with no leakage and high thermal conductivity. The microstructure and pore structure of PW and PWC were studied through SEM and nitrogen adsorption–desorption curves. The analysis results of FTIR, XRD and TGA indicated SA/PW and SA/PWC had excellent chemical compatibility and thermal stability. Excitingly, compared to SA/PW, SA/PWC exhibited higher latent heat and thermal conductivity. DSC results showed that the phase-change latent heat of SA/PWC can reach 100 J/g, which was 21% higher than that of SA/PW and the thermal conductivity increased by 87% times compared to SA/PW . In addition, SA/PW and SA/PWC still exhibited good thermal energy storage capacity after 200 thermal cycles. This research not only effectively resolved the leakage and low thermal conductivity challenges associated with PCMs but also introduced a novel utilization strategy for waste poplar sawdust, thereby significantly expanding its application potential.

Life cycle assessment of biochar and cattle manure application in sugar beet cultivation – Insights into root yields, white sugar quality, environmental aspects in field and factory phases

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a well-known sugar crop essential for supplying the global demand for sugar. Examining how different farming techniques affect the environment may help produce a high-quality crop with the least negative environmental effects. To this, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of biochar (B) and cattle manure (CM) applications at three different rates (5, 10, and 15 tons ha−1) compared with conventional chemical fertilization (CH) in the autumn and spring sugar beet crops has been studied. The system boundaries for LCA analysis were set from the cradle to the sugar factory gate. Based on the results, the highest amounts of root yield were obtained under CM10 and CM15 treatments with 24.5% and 23.2% increase in autumn cultivation and 34.8%, and 33.9% increase in spring cultivation, compared to CH. However, CM15 resulted in significantly lower sugar content (10.9%) than B5 (17%). Also, B utilization significantly reduced molasses content in sugar beet rather than CM in both cultivation periods. Further, biochar treatments (B5, B10, B15) significantly increased the white sugar yield in both cultivation times by 43.7%, 39.2%, and 36.1%, on average. Generally, the highest and the lowest global warming potential (GWP) were obtained from CM15 and B15 with 638.5 and 437.2 CO2-eq ton−1 root/sugar yields, respectively. These findings validate the hypothesis that using biochar in sugar beet production could reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing the amount of white sugar produced.

Enhancing the stability of soil contaminated with fluoride through the utilization of pristine and aluminium-impregnated biochar: a comprehensive mechanistic approach.

The effect of trivalent metal-modified biochar on the stability and mitigation of fluoride ions (F-) in contaminated soils remains largely unexplored, despite biochar's extensive application in F--contaminated soil. The mineral metal-modified biochar has the potential to serve as an efficient solution for soil contaminated with F-. In this study, pristine-pinecone biochar (P-BC) and AlCl3-modified pinecone biochar (A-BC) were synthesized and then utilized to remediate the soil that had been contaminated with F-. Both P-BC and A-BC efficiently immobilized F- within the contaminated soil. Further examinations through sequential extraction procedure and subsequent analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and elemental dot mapping demonstrated a transformation of F- into a more stable state by A-BC treatment of the contaminated soil. This implies that A-BC may possess the capacity to function as an efficient ameliorant for immobilizing F- within the soil.

Biochar Applied in Places Where Its Feedstock Was Produced Mitigated More CO2 Emissions from Acidic Red Soils

Agricultural soil is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions, among which carbon dioxide (CO2) is an important greenhouse gas, impacting the global climate. In China, as a large rice-producing country, carbon sequestration and CO2 mitigation in paddy soil are crucial for the mitigation of global climate change. While biochar has been widely used in the mitigation of soil greenhouse gas emissions, the application site of biochar, i.e., whether or not it is the same as its feedstocks, may generate different effects on soil CO2 emissions due to the differences in the element and nutrient concentrations in its feedstocks, especially when applied in fertilized soil. In order to explore the effects of biochar application with different feedstocks on the mitigation of CO2 emissions from paddy soil, this experiment took paddy soil in a red soil area as the research object, using rice straw and Camellia oleifera fruit shell as raw materials to produce biochar (adding an amount of 40 g kg−1 soil) and urea as an external nitrogen source (adding an amount of 200 mg kg−1 soil). The effects of two different types of biochar derived from feedstocks with different producing origins on the CO2 emissions from paddy soil were studied via laboratory control incubation studies. The results showed that (1) the effects of rice straw biochar addition on the soil pH, NO3−-N and total available nitrogen (AN) content were significantly higher than those of Camellia oleifera fruit shell biochar (the scale of the increase was higher by 6.40%, 579.7% and 180.1%, respectively). (2) The CO2 emission rate and cumulative emissions of soil supplemented with rice straw biochar were significantly lower than in that supplemented with Camellia oleifera fruit shell biochar (decreases of 28.0% and 27.5%, respectively). Our findings suggest that the efficiency of emission mitigation of rice straw biochar is better than that of Camellia oleifera fruit shell applied to paddy soil. While future studies considering more types of greenhouse gases will be necessary to expand these findings, this study indicates that biochar prepared from in situ feedstock can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in rice fields, so as to ensure sustainable development and achieve energy conservation and emission reduction goals. This study will benefit future agricultural practices when choosing biochar as a greenhouse gas mitigation strategy in the context of global warming, as well as other global changes following global warming, caused by elevated atmospheric greenhouse gases.