Impact of Biochar on Climate Change, Agricultural Soil and Plants

Biochar is a product of carbon rich mass produced through the pyrolysis of organic wastes. Several reviews have been published demonstrating the effects of biochar on soil health, plant productivity and on the amelioration of adverse effects of climate. Depending upon the type of biomass and pyrolysis conditions maintained, biochar acquire specific characteristics like cation exchange capacity, pore size, surface area, mineral contents, energy density and adsorption capacity and help in serving a prime role in agriculture, climate change and waste management. Biochar significance also stems from its ability to sequester significant amount of carbon and reducing the efflux of greenhouse gas emission in the environment. Biochar is an important ecological niche for microbes, as biochar porous structure and high surface area, if maintained, helps in proliferation of microbes (plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhization). Biochar amendment has multiple effects on biological and biochemical properties, e.g. retention of nutrients (N, P, K), organic matter (C), water holding capacity and soil respiration, ultimately improving crop yield. In addition, it facilitates in providing tolerance against different abiotic and biotic stresses. Surface modification of biochar with nanomaterial is a promising strategy affecting its sorption capacity for contaminant removal. This review focuses on evaluating the role of biochar alone and in combination with PGPR on soil health, plant productivity under stress, enhancement of systemic resistance in plants and waste management. Further, this review demonstrates the modulation of functional characteristics of biochar as affected by nanomaterial in concert.