Biochar production and applications in sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities, constraints, risks and uncertainties

Gwenzi, Willis; Chaukura, Nhamo; Mukome, Fungai N.D.; Machado, Stephen; Nyamasoka, Blessing

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.11.027

Cited by 185 publications

(145 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…In commercial crops, these doses are justified if it is to give an environmentally correct destination to a waste with polluting potential and, or when there is a large amount of organic waste that needs to be properly disposed of (GWENZI et al, 2015). However, in some studies small doses of biochar associated with mineral fertilizers have increased the efficiency of these inputs (MANIKANDAN & SUBRAMANIAN, 2013), which seems to be more feasible when the raw material for the production of biochar is limiting.…”

Section: Viger Et Al (2015) Verified For Plants Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Firstly, the production of biochar allows the recycling of large quantities of agricultural wastes (ABDELHAFEZ et al, 2014), reducing Silva et al the contamination associated with the disposal to the environment (AHMAD et al, 2014;GWENZI et al, 2015). Second, unlike the organic matter in nature which tends to decompose rapidly, biochar is considered a stock of stable carbon and slow degradation, which makes an efficient alternative to increase storage and sequestration in the soil (JOSKO et al, 2013) and to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GWENZI et al, 2016).Finally, biochar can act as a soil conditioner (ALBUQUERQUE et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Growth and production of common bean fertilized with biochar

et al. 2017

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Production of biochar from organic wastes promises to be an interesting source of plant nutrients, thus reducing pressure on natural resources. To assess the effect of biochar prepared from wastes filtration materials on the growth and production of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), three simultaneous greenhouse experiments were conducted with three different biochar from organic wastes (rice husk, sawdust, and sorghum silage) using as filtration material for swine biofertilizer. In each experiment the treatments consisted of the addition of five different biochar concentrations (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% v/v), arranged in a completely random design, with four repetitions. Application of biochar increased the root dry mass, shoot dry mass, grain dry mass, number of pods and number of grains. These results indicated that biochar contributed significantly to the growth and production of common bean plants.

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Section: Viger Et Al (2015) Verified For Plants Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth and production of common bean fertilized with biochar

et al. 2017

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“…The nutrient supply and liming potential depend on: the source composition (Atkinson et al, 2010) such as P in bone biochar ; and ash content (DeLuca et al, 2009;Gwenzi et al, 2015);…”

Section: Important Environmental and Agronomic Properties Of Biocharmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar: Pyrogenic Carbon for Agricultural Use - A Critical Review

Novotny

Maia

Carvalho

et al. 2015

Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Solo

175

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Biochar (carbonized biomass for agricultural use) has been used worldwide as soil amendment and is a technology of particular interest for Brazil, since its "inspiration" is from the historical Terra Preta de Índios (Amazon Dark Earth), and also because Brazil is the world's largest charcoal producer, generating enormous residue quantities in form of fine charcoal and due to the availability of different residual biomasses, mainly from agroindustry (e.g., sugar-cane bagasse; wood and paper-mill wastes; residues from biofuel industries; sewage sludge etc), that can be used for biochar production, making Brazil a key actor in the international scenario in terms of biochar research and utilization). In the last decade, numerous studies on biochar have been carried out and now a vast literature, and excellent reviews, are available. The objective of this paper is therefore to deliver a critical review with some highlights on biochar research, rather than an exhaustive bibliographic review. To this end, some key points considered critical and relevant were selected and the pertinent literature "condensed", with a view to guide future research, rather than analyze trends of the past.

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“…These studies reported that biochar can bind heavy metals, ameliorate acidic soils, and improve soil health characteristics. Gwenzi et al [70] showed that biochar, alone or in combination with compost, was effective in absorbing heavy metals from mine tailings. Additionally, Jain et al [71] reported that alkaline biochars incorporated into sulfur containing mine waste were effective at neutralizing acidic compounds.…”

Section: Mine-impacted Spoils and Biocharmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Health, Crop Productivity, Microbial Transport, and Mine Spoil Response to Biochars

et al. 2016

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Biochars vary widely in pH, surface area, nutrient concentration, porosity, and metal binding capacity due to the assortment of feedstock materials and thermal conversion conditions under which it is formed. The wide variety of chemical and physical characteristics have resulted in biochar being used as an amendment to rebuild soil health, improve crop yields, increase soil water storage, and restore soils/spoils impacted by mining. Meta-analysis of the biochar literature has shown mixed results when using biochar as a soil amendment to improve crop productivity. For example, in one meta-analysis, biochar increased crop yield by approximately 10 %, while in another, approximately 50 % of the studies reported minimal to no crop yield increases. In spite of the mixed crop yield reports, biochars have properties that can improve soil health characteristics, by increasing carbon (C) sequestration and nutrient and water retention. Biochars also have the ability to bind enteric microbes and enhance metal binding in soils impacted by mining. In this review, we present examples of both effective and ineffective uses of biochar to improve soil health for agricultural functions and reclamation of degraded mine spoils. Biochars are expensive to manufacture and cannot be purged from soil after application, so for efficient use, they should be targeted for specific uses in agricultural and environmental sectors. Thus, we introduce the designer biochar concept as an alternate paradigm stating that biochars should be designed with properties that are tailored to specific soil deficiencies or problems. We then demonstrate how careful selection of biochars can increase their effectiveness as a soil amendment.

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Biochar production and applications in sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities, constraints, risks and uncertainties

Cited by 185 publications

References 68 publications

Growth and production of common bean fertilized with biochar

Growth and production of common bean fertilized with biochar

Biochar: Pyrogenic Carbon for Agricultural Use - A Critical Review

Soil Health, Crop Productivity, Microbial Transport, and Mine Spoil Response to Biochars

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