About this Research Topic
The world's population is rapidly increasing and is estimated to cross 9.8 billion by 2050, which will ultimately affect the world’s agroecosystems. This increase in population has decreased the worldwide cultivable area, putting remarkable pressure on agricultural production systems. These factors have led to an increased usage of chemicals in the form of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and insecticides which are polluting the entire environment and resulting in an increase in global warming. Consequently, to meet the feeding requirements of the increasing population, and the production of more grains and organic food for our future generations, the agricultural system has become dependent on the use of sustainable and safe inputs. In the last two decades, biochar has received growing interest for its application in environmental management such as its usage as a soil amendment to increase soil fertility, sorbent to reduce the bioavailability of organic and inorganic pollutants, supplementary additive during composting, and amendment during vermicomposting of biowastes. It is also an efficient measure to sequestrate carbon to tackle climate change and global warming.
During the last few years, biochar has been used in agroecosystems for various farming and environmental purposes in the framework of a circular economy. Biochar is an evolving soil amendment in agroecosystems with many facets contributing toward sustainable agriculture. The share of biochar in agricultural business has also increased correspondingly in the last two decades. It has been observed in recent research findings that the application of biochar could increase soil fertility benefits, such as enhancement in soil microbial activities, decrease in bulk density, improvement in nutrient and water holding capacity and immutability of soil organic matter. Most interestingly, the locally available wastes at the farm level are pyrolyzed to biochar to expand the relationship between plants, soil and the environment. Moreover, this whole technology is very good for small-scale farming, and the biochar produced can be used in agriculture farms for different purposes: (1) improvement in soil fertility, (2) increase in crop productivity, (3) supplementary additive during composting and (4) amendment during vermicomposting of biowastes.
The aim of this Research Topic is to bring together original research and review articles based on the concept of the multifaceted use of biochar in upholding a circular economy across global agroecosystems. We hope that this Research Topic provides a discussion platform for the recent trends and advances in the area of biochar use in agroecosystems.
Topics include, but are not limited to:
• Biochar for environmental management
• Biochar as carbon sequestration agent coupling with soil fertility status
• Immutability of soil organic matter and soil configuration
• Impact of biochar on crop growth and yield
• Biochar and sustainable agroecosystems
• Impact of biochar on heavy metals dynamics
• Impact of biochar on nutrient availability
• Role of biochar in abiotic stress amelioration
During the last few years, biochar has been used in agroecosystems for various farming and environmental purposes in the framework of a circular economy. Biochar is an evolving soil amendment in agroecosystems with many facets contributing toward sustainable agriculture. The share of biochar in agricultural business has also increased correspondingly in the last two decades. It has been observed in recent research findings that the application of biochar could increase soil fertility benefits, such as enhancement in soil microbial activities, decrease in bulk density, improvement in nutrient and water holding capacity and immutability of soil organic matter. Most interestingly, the locally available wastes at the farm level are pyrolyzed to biochar to expand the relationship between plants, soil and the environment. Moreover, this whole technology is very good for small-scale farming, and the biochar produced can be used in agriculture farms for different purposes: (1) improvement in soil fertility, (2) increase in crop productivity, (3) supplementary additive during composting and (4) amendment during vermicomposting of biowastes.
The aim of this Research Topic is to bring together original research and review articles based on the concept of the multifaceted use of biochar in upholding a circular economy across global agroecosystems. We hope that this Research Topic provides a discussion platform for the recent trends and advances in the area of biochar use in agroecosystems.
Topics include, but are not limited to:
• Biochar for environmental management
• Biochar as carbon sequestration agent coupling with soil fertility status
• Immutability of soil organic matter and soil configuration
• Impact of biochar on crop growth and yield
• Biochar and sustainable agroecosystems
• Impact of biochar on heavy metals dynamics
• Impact of biochar on nutrient availability
• Role of biochar in abiotic stress amelioration
Keywords: biochar, circular economy, agroecosystems, environment, sustainability
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