Pros and Cons of Biochar Application in Soils

Dear Colleagues,

Soil is of extreme importance, and healthy soil is particularly important—providing optimal conditions for plant growth, human nutrition, and water filtration. Unfortunately, it is also the biggest sink for all types of xenobiotics—deposited and often immobilized there with the use of colloids. Many strategies have been proposed to condition soils and to protect it from the adverse effects of contaminants. For the past few decades, different types of biomass carbonization products (biochar, hydrochar, etc.) have been tested as a „golden” soil amendments—improving soil properties, its nutritional potential, and the need for commercial fertilizers. Nevertheless, still relatively little is known on char’s fate in soil, its ageing, persistent components, interaction with mineral fertilizers, by-products of chemical processes that occur when applied to soil or after immobilization of the pollutants, i.e., agrochemicals.

In this Special Issue, new and critical research on the biochar impact on soils should be presented, with particular emphasis on long-term experiments and their effect on soil properties. Papers dealing with all types of biomass carbonization systems can be submitted, including comprehensive review articles. Classic and new approaches of biochar and hydrochar applications, considerations of endogenic matter fate upon biochar addition to soil, as well as studies evaluating potential gaps and ways to overcome identified shortcomings are of interest.

This Special Issue aims at showing the „pros and cons” of biomass carbonization products utilization in soils. Therefore, we invite you to contribute by submitting your papers, with the aim of summarizing the successes, limitations, and ongoing challenges in biochar application to soils.

Dr. Irmina Ćwieląg-Piasecka
Dr. Elżbieta Jamroz
Guest Editors

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• biochar
• hydrochar
• ageing
• fertilizers
• xenobiotics
• organic matter