Biochars in soils: towards the required level of scientific understanding. Issue 2 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tammeorg, Priit; Bastos, Ana Catarina; Jeffery, Simon; Rees, Frédéric; Kern, Jürgen; Graber, Ellen R.; Ventura, Maurizio; Kibblewhite, Mark; Amaro, António; Budai, Alice; Cordovil, Cláudia M. d. S.; Domene, Xavier; Gardi, Ciro; Gascó, Gabriel; Horák, Ján; Kammann, Claudia; Kondrlova, Elena; Laird, David; Loureiro, Susana; Martins, Martinho A. S.; Panzacchi, Pietro; Prasad, Munoo; Prodana, Marija; Puga, Aline Peregrina; Ruysschaert, Greet; Sas-Paszt, Lidia; Silva, Flávio C.; Teixeira, Wenceslau Geraldes; Tonon, Giustino; Delle Vedove, Gemini; Zavalloni, Costanza; Glaser, Bruno; Verheijen, Frank G. A.;
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental engineering and landscape management. Volume 25:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 192
• Page End: 207
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: biochar -- biodiversity -- ecosystem services -- ecotoxicology -- greenhouse gases -- nutrient cycles -- policy support -- soil organic matter -- soil physical properties -- soil remediation; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Forest landscape management -- Periodicals; Agricultural landscape management -- Periodicals; Agricultural landscape management; Environmental engineering; Environmental protection; Environmental sciences; Forest landscape management; Pollution; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.3846/16486897.2016.1239582
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1648-6897

Abstract

Abstract: Key priorities in biochar research for future guidance of sustainable policy development have been identified by expert assessment within the COST Action TD1107. The current level of scientific understanding (LOSU) regarding the consequences of biochar application to soil were explored. Five broad thematic areas of biochar research were addressed: soil biodiversity and ecotoxicology, soil organic matter and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, soil physical properties, nutrient cycles and crop production, and soil remediation. The highest future research priorities regarding biochar's effects in soils were: functional redundancy within soil microbial communities, bioavailability of biochar's contaminants to soil biota, soil organic matter stability, GHG emissions, soil formation, soil hydrology, nutrient cycling due to microbial priming as well as altered rhizosphere ecology, and soil pH buffering capacity. Methodological and other constraints to achieve the required LOSU are discussed and options for efficient progress of biochar research and sustainable application to soil are presented.