Biochar implications in cleaner agricultural production and environmental sustainability

Abstract

Achieving food security while mitigating climate change is the foremost challenge for researchers and policy planners globally. Thus, dual objective approaches/techniques need to be developed, which can potentially increase food production with zero/negative greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The global agricultural production system generates a huge amount of bio-waste, which threatens agricultural and environmental sustainability. However, conversion of agricultural waste into biochar can potentially address the food insecurity and climate change challenges concurrently. Biochar production and utilization is proposed as an innovative solution for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as zero hunger, poverty, and climate change mitigation, by enhancing farm productivity and reducing/offsetting anthropogenic CO₂ emission. Globally, biochar has the potential to increase crop productivity by 11% and reduces 12% human-induced GHG emissions annually. Biochar can potentially sequester ∼0.7–1.8 Gt CO₂ (C eq.) y⁻¹ in the soil system. Furthermore, biochar application improves soil health, which facilitates the plant growth and crop productivity. Biochar application can alters the plant physiology and makes the plant system more tolerant against biotic and abiotic stresses. Biochar is also an excellent in situ-sorbent for soil contaminants. However, some inconsistent reports about the utility of biochar are also available. Hence, an in-depth understanding about the uses and impact of biochar on the food production, soil health, and climate change mitigation is highly warranted, for framing the research priorities and policies for developing cleaner and sustainable agricultural production systems.