Combined effects of biochar properties and soil conditions on plant growth: A meta-analysis

Biochar application in agricultural soils can be highly beneficial to plant productivity. However, how plant productivity response (PPR) [% change of plant yield from control (without biochar application)] to biochar application is affected by biochar properties, soil conditions, and their combinations is still unclear. Therefore, a meta-analysis based on 1254 paired comparisons from 153 published studies was conducted. The grand mean of PPR was estimated to be 16.0 ± 1.3%, regardless of biochar/soil conditions. Meanwhile, a large variation of PPR from −31.8% to 974% was also observed under different biochar or/and soil conditions. Specifically, biochar properties including pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), contents of carbon and ash, bulk density, and soil conditions including texture, pH, CEC, nitrogen content, and C/N ratio significantly affected the results of PPR to biochar addition. Furthermore, the liming effect, improvement in soil physical structure, and increased nutrient use efficiency were suggested as the key mechanisms for the positive PPR in biochar-amended soils. Moreover, PPR could be significantly affected (strengthened or weakened) by the combined effect of biochar properties and soil conditions. Overall, the application of biochars with high ash content (or low carbon content) into sandy soils or acidic soils is highly recommended for increasing plant productivity. This meta-analysis will provide helpful information to elucidate the combined effect of biochar properties and soil conditions on plant growth, which is critical for developing engineered biochar with specific functionality to promote plant production and food security.