Response of soil pH to biochar application in farmland across China: a meta-analysis

Background Biochar, an alkaline material derived from agricultural and forestry waste, can ameliorate soil quality by adjusting soil pH. However, various types of biochar have distinct effects on soil pH due to diversity in feedstock type, pyrolysis temperature, and application rate. Method Therefor...

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Main Authors: Jia Yao, Xueren Wang, Mei Hong, Hui Gao, Shixiang Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2025-04-01
Series:PeerJ
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Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/19400.pdf
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author Jia Yao
Xueren Wang
Mei Hong
Hui Gao
Shixiang Zhao
author_facet Jia Yao
Xueren Wang
Mei Hong
Hui Gao
Shixiang Zhao
author_sort Jia Yao
collection DOAJ
description Background Biochar, an alkaline material derived from agricultural and forestry waste, can ameliorate soil quality by adjusting soil pH. However, various types of biochar have distinct effects on soil pH due to diversity in feedstock type, pyrolysis temperature, and application rate. Method Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted with 598 paired comparisons obtained from 104 published studies (January 2010–July 2022) to comprehensively depict the response of soil pH to biochar in farmland systems across China. Result The results showed that adding biochar significantly increased the acid soils’ pH. Still, its effects on neutral and alkaline soils varied depending on the biochar’s pH and the soil’s initial pH. The pH of acid and neutral soils was raised by 5–10% straw biochar (600–800 °C and 400–600 °C, respectively). In alkaline soils, 5–10% other biochar (200–400 °C) raised pH, while 1–5% straw biochar (200–400 °C) reduced it. The findings underscore the importance of biochar pH and initial soil pH in the divergent consequences of biochar application in farmland systems, and both factors should be considered to choose the optimal biochar type for acid, neutral, and alkaline soils.
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spelling doaj-art-e6f1cdf6d3cf40f9b602e909b3e5fce02025-08-20T02:13:26ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592025-04-0113e1940010.7717/peerj.19400Response of soil pH to biochar application in farmland across China: a meta-analysisJia Yao0Xueren Wang1Mei Hong2Hui Gao3Shixiang Zhao4Key Laboratory of Agricultural Ecological Security and Green Development at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Ecological Security and Green Development at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, ChinaCollege of Grassland, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Ecological Security and Green Development at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agricultural Ecological Security and Green Development at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot, ChinaBackground Biochar, an alkaline material derived from agricultural and forestry waste, can ameliorate soil quality by adjusting soil pH. However, various types of biochar have distinct effects on soil pH due to diversity in feedstock type, pyrolysis temperature, and application rate. Method Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted with 598 paired comparisons obtained from 104 published studies (January 2010–July 2022) to comprehensively depict the response of soil pH to biochar in farmland systems across China. Result The results showed that adding biochar significantly increased the acid soils’ pH. Still, its effects on neutral and alkaline soils varied depending on the biochar’s pH and the soil’s initial pH. The pH of acid and neutral soils was raised by 5–10% straw biochar (600–800 °C and 400–600 °C, respectively). In alkaline soils, 5–10% other biochar (200–400 °C) raised pH, while 1–5% straw biochar (200–400 °C) reduced it. The findings underscore the importance of biochar pH and initial soil pH in the divergent consequences of biochar application in farmland systems, and both factors should be considered to choose the optimal biochar type for acid, neutral, and alkaline soils.https://peerj.com/articles/19400.pdfBiocharSoil pHFeedstockPyrolysis temperatureApplication rate
spellingShingle Jia Yao
Xueren Wang
Mei Hong
Hui Gao
Shixiang Zhao
Response of soil pH to biochar application in farmland across China: a meta-analysis
PeerJ
Biochar
Soil pH
Feedstock
Pyrolysis temperature
Application rate
title Response of soil pH to biochar application in farmland across China: a meta-analysis
title_full Response of soil pH to biochar application in farmland across China: a meta-analysis
title_fullStr Response of soil pH to biochar application in farmland across China: a meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Response of soil pH to biochar application in farmland across China: a meta-analysis
title_short Response of soil pH to biochar application in farmland across China: a meta-analysis
title_sort response of soil ph to biochar application in farmland across china a meta analysis
topic Biochar
Soil pH
Feedstock
Pyrolysis temperature
Application rate
url https://peerj.com/articles/19400.pdf
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AT xuerenwang responseofsoilphtobiocharapplicationinfarmlandacrosschinaametaanalysis
AT meihong responseofsoilphtobiocharapplicationinfarmlandacrosschinaametaanalysis
AT huigao responseofsoilphtobiocharapplicationinfarmlandacrosschinaametaanalysis
AT shixiangzhao responseofsoilphtobiocharapplicationinfarmlandacrosschinaametaanalysis