Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

ISSN: 2309-1185

The latest advancements in environmental treatment technologies

The Role of Biochar Towards Sustainability and Remediation of the Agricultural Environment in Developed and Developing Countries - A Review

Published date: Jun 25 2025

Journal Title: Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques

Issue title: Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques: Volume 13, Issue 2

Pages: 154 - 171

DOI: 10.18502/jett.v13i2.18545

Authors:

Muhammad Shafiqshafiqeco@yahoo.comDepartment of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270

Muhammad Zafar Iqbalmziqbalbotuokpk@yahoo.comDepartment of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270

Mohammad Atharathartariq700@gmail.comCalifornia Department of Food and Agriculture, 3288 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, CA 95832

Abstract:

The earth is drastically facing different types of environment sustainability issues due to burning of waste, industrial, automobile, addition of inorganic pollutants and anthropogenic activities. The addition of toxic pollutants in the environment produce significant impact on plant and human life. Biochar is a carbonaceous material and obtained from the thermal treatment of biomass (pod, leaves, twig, peel waste), agricultural, urban green waste and animal wastes and found all around the world. Biochar is also a good source of mineral nutrients and with the passage of time easily leached out in the environment. The biochar positively improve the physicochemical properties of soil and environmental quality. The application of biochar at low level leads to improvement in crop productivity and at higher concentration become toxic to plant growth. The constant release of different types of pollutants likewise sludge, municipality waste, and specially heavy metals into the environment causes serious metals pollution problems in air, water and soil on a global scale in recent years alarmingly. The addition of metallic element into the environment become environmental risks, and influence on plant growth and soil properties. The interactions of biochar with immediate environment decrease the chances of environmental risk contamination. Biochar adsorb heavy metals from the soil due to its unique structure and composition. Biochar materials have been successfully used to adsorb contaminants from the environment and few studies have been documented by different researchers both in national and international scientific journals. The objective of the present review was to summarize, analyze and focused on understanding about the potential role of biochar on soil health, crop nutrition, carbon management, climate change, crop yield management, and heavy metals absorbents. The sustainable use of biochar in industrial and agricultural sector can helps in improving soil quality, plant growth and in controlling the critical environmental issues specially metal contamination.

Keywords: agricultural biomass, biochar, heavy metals, pyrolysis, wood biochar

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