soil properties

BackgroundBiochar is a relatively new development in sustainable agricultural management that can be applied to ameliorate degraded and less fertile soils, especially sandy-textured ones, to improve their productivity with respect to crop production through improved nutrient availability. However, as the literature has shown, the response of sandy-textured soils to biochar varies in terms of effect […]

AbstractAmmonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria (AOA and AOB, respectively) are important intermediate links in the nitrogen cycle. Apart from the AOA and AOB communities in soil, we further investigated co-occurrence patterns and microbial assembly processes subjected to inorganic and organic fertilizer treatments for over 35 years. The amoA copy numbers and AOA and AOB communities were found […]

Abstract Biochar is a widely known soil amendment. Here we synthesize the available information on influence of biochar application on different soil properties and crop productivity using meta-analysis. Global data on influence of biochar applications on different soil physical, chemical, microbial properties, and crop productivity were extracted from literature and statistically analyzed. Based on selection […]

Abstract Globally, nitrogen (N) fertilizer demand is expected to reach 112 million tonnes to support food production for about 8 billion people. However, more than half of the N fertilizer is lost to the environment with impacts on air, water and soil quality, and biodiversity. Importantly, N loss to the environment contributes to greenhouse gas emissions […]

Abstract In response to increasing concerns over climate change, soil health and wine quality, grape growers are seeking new practices (e.g., biochar application) to minimize their environmental footprint while increasing productivity and the quality of their products. To explore the potential of biochar-based amendments to achieve these goals in wine grape production, vineyard trials were […]

Abstract Biochar is a carbon-rich material obtained after thermochemical conversion of biomass under no oxygen environment. The effect of biochar amendment on soil properties, such as water retention, infiltration and desiccation crack potential was studied in the recent years. However, the effect of biochar or feedstock type on these properties is not explicit. This study […]

Abstract Biochar produced from straw has been shown to improve soil physicochemical properties. This review introduces the fundamental concepts, the broad applications, and underlying theory of straw biochar returning. Current developments in biochar industry and the production practices prevalent among enterprises in China are critiques. This review analyzes current knowledge gaps, challenges, and opportunities in […]