The Role of Biochar in Sustainable Soil Management and Agricultural Productivity

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: Special, 328 - 336, 28.12.2025

Gul Ebru Orhun , Gonca Aktaş

https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.si.32

Abstract

In recent years, biochar has emerged as a notable soil conditioner within the scope of sustainable agricultural practices, owing to its potential to improve soil quality and its capacity for carbon sequestration. Biochar is a carbon-rich product obtained through pyrolysis, a process that involves the combustion of organic waste in an oxygen-free environment. This study aims to evaluate the effects of biochar on the physical and chemical properties of soil, analyze its potential contributions to agricultural productivity, and highlight its role in sustainable soil management based on existing literature. Research indicates that biochar can regulate soil pH, increase water retention capacity, positively influence microbial activity, and contribute to nutrient cycling. However, the effects of biochar vary depending on the type of raw material used, application rate, and the structural characteristics of the soil. Biochar’s performance is strongly influenced by feedstock selection, pyrolysis conditions, and soil characteristics, highlighting the need for site-specific application strategies in sustainable agricultural systems.

Keywords

Biochar , Sustainable Agriculture , Soil Fertility , Carbon Sequestration

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