Publication detail

A critical review of the possible adverse effects of biochar in the soil environment

BRTNICKÝ, M. DATTA, R. HOLÁTKO, J. BIELSKÁ, L. GUSIATIN, Z. M. KUČERÍK, J. HAMMERSCHMIEDT, T. DANISH, S. RADZIEMSKA, M. MRAVCOVÁ, L. FAHAD, S. KINTL, A. ŠUDOMA, M. AHMED, N. PECINA, V.

Original Title

A critical review of the possible adverse effects of biochar in the soil environment

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Biochar has received extensive attention because of its multi-functionality for agricultural and environmental applications. Despite its many benefits, there are concerns related to the long-term safety and implications of its application, mainly because the mechanisms affecting soil and organism health are poorly quantified and understood. This work reviews 259 sources and summarises existing knowledge on biochar's adverse effects on soil from a multiangle perspective, including the physicochemical changes in soil, reduced efficiency of agrochemicals, potentially toxic substances in biochar, and effects on soil biota. Suggestions are made for mitigation measures. Mixed findings are often reported; however, the results suggest that high doses of biochar in clay soils are likely to decrease available water content, and surface application of biochar to sandy soils likely increases erosion and particulate matter emissions. Furthermore, biochar may increase the likelihood of excessive soil salinity and decreased soil fertility because of an increase in the pH of alkaline soils causing nutrient precipitation. Regarding the impact of biochar on (agro)chemicals and the role of biochar-borne toxic substances, these factors cannot be neglected because of their apparent undesirable effects on target and non-target organisms, respectively. Concerning non-target biota, adverse effects on reproduction, growth, and DNA integrity of earthworms have been reported along with effects on soil microbiome such as a shift in the fungi-to-bacteria ratio. Given the diversity of effects that biochar may induce in soil, guidelines for future biochar use should adopt a structured and holistic approach that considers all positive and negative effects of biochar.

Keywords

Potentially toxic elements; Soil salinity; Soil erosion; Microbial communities; Ecotoxicity

Authors

BRTNICKÝ, M.; DATTA, R.; HOLÁTKO, J.; BIELSKÁ, L.; GUSIATIN, Z. M.; KUČERÍK, J.; HAMMERSCHMIEDT, T.; DANISH, S.; RADZIEMSKA, M.; MRAVCOVÁ, L.; FAHAD, S.; KINTL, A.; ŠUDOMA, M.; AHMED, N.; PECINA, V.

Released

20. 11. 2021

ISBN

0048-9697

Periodical

Science of the Total Environment

Year of study

796

Number

148756

State

Kingdom of the Netherlands

Pages from

1

Pages to

18

Pages count

18

URL

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721038286

BibTex

@article{BUT172063,
  author="BRTNICKÝ, M. and DATTA, R. and HOLÁTKO, J. and BIELSKÁ, L. and GUSIATIN, Z. M. and KUČERÍK, J. and HAMMERSCHMIEDT, T. and DANISH, S. and RADZIEMSKA, M. and MRAVCOVÁ, L. and FAHAD, S. and KINTL, A. and ŠUDOMA, M. and AHMED, N. and PECINA, V.",
  title="A critical review of the possible adverse effects of biochar in the soil environment",
  journal="Science of the Total Environment",
  year="2021",
  volume="796",
  number="148756",
  pages="1--18",
  doi="10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148756",
  issn="0048-9697",
  url="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721038286"
}