Advancement of Climate Mitigation through Biochar Applications in Agriculture
Abstract
Humanity faces pressing challenges related to greenhouse gas emissions, climate change and declining soil quality. Biochar showed potential, with straw-based biochar application reducing total carbon emissions by about 47%. In this paper, we assess feed variability, pyrolysis conditions, and their effects on soil fertility, carbon storage, and greenhouse gas emissions by systematically analyzing more than 80,000 scientific studies and machine learning meta-analyses. Our approach highlights a cross-regional comparison of biochar aging effects and soil interactions, revealing new insights into its long-term carbon stabilization mechanisms. The results show that biochar can store organic carbon in the soil for hundreds of years, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 50%, and increase crop productivity. Notably, biochar produced by high-temperature pyrolysis at 600 °C had high stability (up to 97% inert carbon) and enhanced soil cation exchange capacity. This study innovatively quantifies the synergistic effects of biochar and nitrogen co-application, providing a dual strategy for sustainable agricultural development and climate mitigation. This review is positioned as a scalable solution within the circular economy framework.