Restoration of Soil Health Using Microbes Enriched Biochar and Nanomaterials: A Review on Current Perspective

ABSTRACT Soil structure maintenance, nutrient cycle, and carbon transformations are the important processes that play a significant role in maintaining soil health, fertility, and its productivity. These processes mainly depend on soil biota and their functionality, and bio/geochemical activities. To a larger extent, the soil microbial community, especially the soil microbiome, plays a crucial role in plant growth via enhancing nutrient availability and improving soil properties. Biochar, a carbon‐rich source fabricated by the pyrolysis process, showed a better alternative for sustainable agricultural development. On the other hand, nanotechnology (plant essential elements‐based nanoparticles; i.e., ZnO and CuO) has proven to be effective in soil health improvement as well as improved crop production. Thus, the integrated use of biochar (agro‐waste), plant essential nanoparticles, and metal‐tolerant microbes (heavy metals tolerant that alleviate toxicity and enhance plant growth) is employed to manage soil stresses via improving soil characteristics to improve crop production. Biochar contains a porous structure that provides a favorable habitat for microbial colonization. Biochar‐nanobiochar, nanoparticles, and heavy metal‐tolerant microbes collectively restore soil health, manage plant growth, recycle agricultural/urban food wastes, and reduce gas emissions.