Turning agricultural and organic waste into biochar could help store more carbon in the soil and slow climate change, according to a new study published in Biochar. Researchers from Prairie View A&M University reviewed recent findings showing that biochar improves soil health, boosts microbial diversity, and captures carbon that would otherwise enter the atmosphere as greenhouse gases.
Biochar is a charcoal-like material produced by heating plant or animal waste under limited oxygen conditions. The review found that when added to soil, biochar acts as a long-lasting carbon sink and enhances several soil processes essential for sustainability. Its highly porous structure and stable carbon bonds help lock away carbon for hundreds to thousands of years, while also supporting beneficial microbial communities.
"Biochar offers a natural way to improve soil fertility and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said lead author Matthew Enebe. "Our review shows that biochar can transform the soil environment to favor microbial activities that store carbon rather than release it."
The researchers found that high-temperature biochar—produced at around 600 to 700 degrees Celsius—was particularly effective at increasing soil carbon and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. By creating biochar-organo-mineral interfaces, it protects fragile organic matter from microbial decomposition. Biochar also neutralizes acidic soils, improves water and nutrient retention, and provides better living conditions for soil organisms.
Microbial diversity plays a key role in this process. The study highlights how biochar fosters a balanced microbial community that slows down carbon mineralization and increases the buildup of microbial necromass, a major long-term carbon reservoir. In addition, biochar can suppress methane and nitrous oxide emissions, two potent greenhouse gases, by altering soil chemistry and enhancing microbial methane oxidation.
Beyond climate benefits, biochar improves crop yields by enhancing soil structure and nutrient cycling. "Our findings demonstrate that biochar aligns perfectly with nature-based solutions for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience," said coauthor Ram Ray.
The team emphasized the need for more long-term studies on how different biochar types, soil conditions, and climate zones affect carbon storage and microbial dynamics. "Biochar is not a silver bullet," Enebe noted, "but it is a practical and powerful tool for building healthier soils and reducing our environmental footprint."
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Journal Reference: Enebe, M.C., Ray, R.L. & Griffin, R.W. The impacts of biochar on carbon sequestration, soil processes, and microbial communities: a review. Biochar 7, 107 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-025-00499-3
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About Biochar
Biochar is the first journal dedicated exclusively to biochar research, spanning agronomy, environmental science, and materials science. It publishes original studies on biochar production, processing, and applications—such as bioenergy, environmental remediation, soil enhancement, climate mitigation, water treatment, and sustainability analysis. The journal serves as an innovative and professional platform for global researchers to share advances in this rapidly expanding field.
