Biochar as a Potential Nutrient Carrier for Agricultural Applications

Purpose of Review: This paper offers a thorough overview of the processes of nutrient enrichment by biochar and how biochar as a nutrient carrier can effectively improve agricultural productivity. The distributions of nutrients in biochar and the dynamics of nutrients in soil are also reviewed in detail. Recent Findings: The application of biochar improves soil health by changing the soil's biological and physico-chemical characteristics of the soil, such as its structure, cation exchange capacity and microbial biomass carbon. Additionally, biochar produced from low pyrolysis temperatures can enhance nutrient retention in soils and be utilized as a carbon-based fertilizer. Summary: The maintenance of an adequate amount of organic matter in soil and a dynamic biogeochemical cycle of essential nutrients are key components of sustainable soil management. Biochar is a carbonized biomass derived from various feedstock materials, including wood and crop residues, manures, biosolids and animal carcasses. Biochar has been used for more than two decades as a soil amendment to improve soil physicochemical conditions and mitigate soil contamination. Nutrient-enriched biochar-based fertilizers (NEBBF) can be prepared using various nutrient enrichment procedures and have the potential to increase soil fertility and crop productivity. The application of NEBBF, which is a carbon-based nutrient source, has been shown to enhance microbial activity, thereby increasing the efficiency of nutrient use compared to conventional non-carbon-based synthetic fertilizers. This review identified key research gaps and discussed the importance and necessity of biochar as a nutrient carrier in agriculture.