Schlagwort: biochar

Peer-reviewed Publications

Zhang et al. (2026): Microbial-mediated soil organic carbon sequestration under biochar application in Chinese agricultural soils

Gehao Zhang, Yang Liao, Jianzhao Wu, Kangyu Wang, Yufei Zhang, Zhouping Shangguan, Yan Fang and Lei Deng, IN: Carbon Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/s44246-026-00290-4

Biochar can enhance soil carbon sequestration. However, the role of microbial mechanisms in regulating these gains remains unclear. This study compiled biochar experiments conducted in China, including 392 observations and 2613 effect sizes related to SOC and microbial attributes, to evaluate the effects of biochar application on cropland soil organic carbon stocks from a microbiological perspective.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Jokubė et al. (2026): Biochar co-benefits are valued in the voluntary carbon market

Medilė Jokubė, Matti Hyyrynen, Sampo Pihlainen and Kari Hyytiäinen, IN: Communications Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1038/s44458-026-00096-w

Climate mitigation pathways towards global net-zero emissions targets commonly include large-scale deployment of carbon dioxide removals. Investment in novel carbon dioxide removal technologies is currently driven by the self-steering voluntary carbon market. Here the authors assess whether the upscaling of biochar carbon dioxide removals via voluntary carbon market can deliver sustainable development co-benefits. They use hedonic pricing to estimate how Sustainable Development Goal claims are reflected in biochar carbon credit prices in transactions up to 2024.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Bolan et al. (2026): Weathering of biochar: implications to soil health, carbon sequestration and soil remediation

Nanthi Bolan, Santanu Mukherjee, Shiv Bolan, Shailja Sharma, Kurt Spokas, Jose Lucas Martins Melo, Joshua T. Padilla, David Houben, Murilo Veloso, Arthur Gross, Sreeni Chadalavada and Kadambot H. M. Siddique, IN: Biochar, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-026-00615-x

There has been increasing interest in the application of biochar as a soil amendment to sequester carbon and remediate contamination. The novelty of this review is that it provides thorough bibliometric analysis and critical discussions on various processes of biochar weathering, factors affecting the weathering processes, and the implication of biochar weathering on its potential value for carbon sequestration and soil remediation in relation to promoting soil health. Although biochar contains stabilized carbon, when exposed in the field, biochar undergoes physical, chemical, and biological weathering processes, which could lead to fragmentation of biochar, impacting its nature, characteristics, and reactivity. The weathering of biochar in soil is impacted by the nature of biochar, soil type, cultivation practices, and environmental conditions.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Price (2026): Losing out in Land-Based Greenhouse Gas Removal – A critical justice perspective on biochar

Catherine Price, IN: Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal, https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v13i2.1892

Biochar is an emergent technology that is currently being investigated for its greenhouse gas removal potential at scale. This provides an ideal opportunity to investigate the potential injustices that may arise with biochar production and deployment so that these can be addressed. The author draws from original data collected in 2022-consisting of 37 semi-structured interviews with mostly UK-based stakeholders who have an interest or potential interest in biochar-supplemented with a document analysis. The paper uses the ‘multioptic vision’ model of who, what, and how to explore the potential injustices of biochar production and deployment.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Han & Lim (2026): Net CO₂ removal in Korean orchard soils using prunings-derived biochar: effects of pyrolysis type and CH₄ emissions in biochar production stage

Kyung-Hwa Han and Min-Hyo Lim, IN: Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer, https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2026.59.1.077

This study evaluated the net carbon dioxide (CO₂) removal (NCR) potential of a local circular system utilizing orchard-pruning residues for biochar production. The life-cycle system comprised six stages: residue collection and natural drying, chipping, transport of chipped residues, local biochar production, biochar transport, and biochar application to orchards. The analysis focused on the biochar production stage, comparing pyrolysis types (TLUD and rotary kiln) and methane (CH₄) emission factors (combustion and feedstock moisture). The amount of orchard-pruning residues was estimated for each city and county based on fruit orchard area in 2022, fruit production, and biomass conversion factors.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Meyer Zu Drewer et al. (2026): Combining biochar and basanite rock powder enhances carbon dioxide removal by carbonate alkalinity production

Johannes Meyer Zu Drewer, Maria-Elena Vorrath, Thorben Amann, Jens Hartmann, Maria Ansari, Marcela Cárcamo Pérez and Nikolas Hagemann, IN: Frontiers in Climate, https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2026.1853116

The combination of enhanced rock weathering (ERW) with pyrogenic carbon capture and storage (PyCCS) has been proposed to harness synergistic effects on carbon dioxide removal (CDR). This can be facilitated by co-application of silicate rock powder and biochar or co-pyrolysis of rock powder and biomass to produce rock-enhanced (RE-)biochar. While it is well documented that co-pyrolysis of biomass and silicate rock does not affect the carbon yield nor the aromaticity of RE-biochar, the effect of co-pyrolysis and co-application on alkalinity production by ERW remains poorly constrained. Here, the authors quantified the daily and cumulative production of carbonate alkalinity (TAcarb g⁻¹ basanite) in a controlled weathering experiment conducted in columns. They compared 14 treatments consisting of basanite rock powder, biochar, co-applications or RE-biochars produced at contrasting highest treatment temperatures (HTT) of 450 °C and 750 °C. The experiment was conducted under two conditions: with sandy, agricultural topsoil under ambient pCO₂ and with washed, quasi non-reactive quartz sand under elevated pCO₂ the latter designed to better isolate leachate signals originating from the amendments alone.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Orlowski et al. (2026): Biochar Carbon Removal with energy co-production – Present and future business models

Monika Orlowski, Hannes Bluhm and Bernd Hirschl, IN: Biomass and Bioenergy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109346

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) is essential for achieving climate neutrality, and Biochar Carbon Removal through slow pyrolysis is among the most mature options available. Although the number of pyrolysis plants in Europe is growing, research on their business models (BMs) remains limited. In this context, this paper explores three questions: How are current pyrolysis BMs with energy co-production configured? Which BM archetypes can be identified? And what future BM pathways appear promising? Their analysis draws on desktop research covering 39 plants in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, 11 interviews with operators and manufacturers, and an expert workshop using a backcasting approach.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Meng et al. (2026): The Effect of Biochar on Saline-alkali soil Amelioration and its Carbon Sequestration and Emission Reduction Effects

Xingyao Meng, Liuxia Li, Hanjie Yang, Zifan Huang, Jinglin Li, Pan Wang and Lianhai Ren, IN: Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-026-03277-7

Biochar, a carbon-rich porous material derived from biomass, holds significant potential for saline-alkali soil remediation and carbon sequestration. To address gaps in existing reviews regarding feedstock-soil type matching effects and the synergistic mechanisms between soil improvement and carbon sequestration, this review systematically elucidates the multi-pathway remediation mechanisms of biochar.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Chandran & Kumar (2026): Use of Nanomaterials for Carbon Sequestration in Soil

Arathi Chandran and Ashok Kumar, IN: Springer Nature, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4489-6_36-1

Cutting-edge developments, particularly in nanotechnology, are revolutionizing the way of management of carbon in soil. Nanomaterials such as biochar nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, graphene, nano-silica, nano-zeolites, nano-lime, nano-ZnO, nano-Fe, nano-Al₂O₃, and lithium silicate nanoparticles possess distinct properties like high surface area, chemical stability, and adjustable surface functionalities that enhance soil aggregation, promote organo-mineral interactions, and stabilize carbon in recalcitrant forms. This chapter provides insight into how nanomaterials can enhance soil carbon sequestration, as well as how they improve the durability of carbon storage and contribute to soil health and sustainable agricultural productivity.

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Peer-reviewed Publications

Gong et al. (2026): Investigating the effects of co-applied basalt and biochar on carbon removal efficiency and grain yield in rice paddy

Xueliu Gong, Jiarong Wu, Jingsong Qin, Jinkai Zhao, Kai Zhu, Chenglong Ye, Shaopan Xia, Jufeng Zheng, Wenkun Qie, Lianqing Li, Zi-Bo Li, Rongjun Bian, IN: Journal of Environmental Management, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129708

Enhanced silicate weathering (ESW) has shown promise for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) in dryland agriculture, yet its effectiveness in flooded rice paddies, particularly regarding the CDR pathways and microbial interactions, remains poorly understood. In this study, the authors quantified CDR in rice paddy amended with basalt and/or biochar.

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