The role of biochar in enhancing soil health & interactions with rhizosphere properties and enzyme activities in organic fertilizer substitution
Modern agriculture faces a dual challenge: sustainable crop production and reducing the environmental impacts of excessive chemical fertilizers use, which leads to soil degradation, nutrient leaching and declining microbial diversity. Addressing these issues, biochar, a carbon-rich by product of pyr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1595208/full |
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| author | Aamir Ali Aamir Ali Nida Jabeen Zaid Chachar Sadaruddin Chachar Shoaib Ahmed Shoaib Ahmed Nazir Ahmed Azhar Ali Laghari Zulfiqar Ali Sahito Rasulov Farruhbek Zhenping Yang |
| author_facet | Aamir Ali Aamir Ali Nida Jabeen Zaid Chachar Sadaruddin Chachar Shoaib Ahmed Shoaib Ahmed Nazir Ahmed Azhar Ali Laghari Zulfiqar Ali Sahito Rasulov Farruhbek Zhenping Yang |
| author_sort | Aamir Ali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Modern agriculture faces a dual challenge: sustainable crop production and reducing the environmental impacts of excessive chemical fertilizers use, which leads to soil degradation, nutrient leaching and declining microbial diversity. Addressing these issues, biochar, a carbon-rich by product of pyrolysis, has emerged as a promising soil amendment due to its ability to enhance soil health, support nutrient cycling, and contribute to climate mitigation. However, its interactive effects with rhizosphere dynamics and soil enzymatic process, particularly when used with organic fertilizers, remain insufficiently explored. This review compiles current knowledge on the short-term and long-term impacts of biochar, particularly in combination with organic fertilizers, on rhizosphere properties, enzyme activities, and nutrient dynamics. In the short term, biochar improves soil structure, water retention, and microbial activity, while reducing nutrient leaching and increasing enzymatic functions. Over the long term, it facilitates carbon sequestration, stabilizes soil organic matter (SOM), and ensures nutrient availability, thereby promoting sustainable crop production. The synergistic application of biochar with organic amendments, such as compost and crop residues, further enhances soil fertility and ecosystem services. Despite its numerous benefits, the adoption of biochar on a larger scale is hindered by challenges related to cost-effectiveness, production consistency, and logistical constraints in diverse agricultural systems. Addressing knowledge gaps related to optimal feedstock selection, pyrolysis conditions, and application rates is essential for maximizing biochar’s potential. By integrating biochar into sustainable agricultural practices, farmers can enhance soil productivity, reduce environmental impacts, and contribute to climate change mitigation. A strategic and evidence-based implementation of biochar technologies holds promise for achieving long-term sustainability and food security goals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c08575d3bc23488ca2959ce783078d74 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-c08575d3bc23488ca2959ce783078d742025-08-20T02:23:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-06-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15952081595208The role of biochar in enhancing soil health & interactions with rhizosphere properties and enzyme activities in organic fertilizer substitutionAamir Ali0Aamir Ali1Nida Jabeen2Zaid Chachar3Sadaruddin Chachar4Shoaib Ahmed5Shoaib Ahmed6Nazir Ahmed7Azhar Ali Laghari8Zulfiqar Ali Sahito9Rasulov Farruhbek10Zhenping Yang11College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andijan State Medical Institute, Andijan, UzbekistanSchool of Communications and Information Engineering, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, ChinaCollege of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, ChinaCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Agronomy, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, PakistanDepartment of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, PakistanCollege of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Shanxi, Jinzhong, ChinaIndustrial Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS), Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andijan State Medical Institute, Andijan, UzbekistanCollege of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, ChinaModern agriculture faces a dual challenge: sustainable crop production and reducing the environmental impacts of excessive chemical fertilizers use, which leads to soil degradation, nutrient leaching and declining microbial diversity. Addressing these issues, biochar, a carbon-rich by product of pyrolysis, has emerged as a promising soil amendment due to its ability to enhance soil health, support nutrient cycling, and contribute to climate mitigation. However, its interactive effects with rhizosphere dynamics and soil enzymatic process, particularly when used with organic fertilizers, remain insufficiently explored. This review compiles current knowledge on the short-term and long-term impacts of biochar, particularly in combination with organic fertilizers, on rhizosphere properties, enzyme activities, and nutrient dynamics. In the short term, biochar improves soil structure, water retention, and microbial activity, while reducing nutrient leaching and increasing enzymatic functions. Over the long term, it facilitates carbon sequestration, stabilizes soil organic matter (SOM), and ensures nutrient availability, thereby promoting sustainable crop production. The synergistic application of biochar with organic amendments, such as compost and crop residues, further enhances soil fertility and ecosystem services. Despite its numerous benefits, the adoption of biochar on a larger scale is hindered by challenges related to cost-effectiveness, production consistency, and logistical constraints in diverse agricultural systems. Addressing knowledge gaps related to optimal feedstock selection, pyrolysis conditions, and application rates is essential for maximizing biochar’s potential. By integrating biochar into sustainable agricultural practices, farmers can enhance soil productivity, reduce environmental impacts, and contribute to climate change mitigation. A strategic and evidence-based implementation of biochar technologies holds promise for achieving long-term sustainability and food security goals.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1595208/fullbiocharorganic fertilizersnutrient cyclingcarbon sequestrationsustainable agriculture |
| spellingShingle | Aamir Ali Aamir Ali Nida Jabeen Zaid Chachar Sadaruddin Chachar Shoaib Ahmed Shoaib Ahmed Nazir Ahmed Azhar Ali Laghari Zulfiqar Ali Sahito Rasulov Farruhbek Zhenping Yang The role of biochar in enhancing soil health & interactions with rhizosphere properties and enzyme activities in organic fertilizer substitution Frontiers in Plant Science biochar organic fertilizers nutrient cycling carbon sequestration sustainable agriculture |
| title | The role of biochar in enhancing soil health & interactions with rhizosphere properties and enzyme activities in organic fertilizer substitution |
| title_full | The role of biochar in enhancing soil health & interactions with rhizosphere properties and enzyme activities in organic fertilizer substitution |
| title_fullStr | The role of biochar in enhancing soil health & interactions with rhizosphere properties and enzyme activities in organic fertilizer substitution |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of biochar in enhancing soil health & interactions with rhizosphere properties and enzyme activities in organic fertilizer substitution |
| title_short | The role of biochar in enhancing soil health & interactions with rhizosphere properties and enzyme activities in organic fertilizer substitution |
| title_sort | role of biochar in enhancing soil health interactions with rhizosphere properties and enzyme activities in organic fertilizer substitution |
| topic | biochar organic fertilizers nutrient cycling carbon sequestration sustainable agriculture |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1595208/full |
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