Review of Scientific Advances and Importance of Biochar for Agricultural and Industrial Uses

Biochar has been known as an effective soil amendment with capabilities of boosting soil moisture storage, increasing soil fertility, and enhancing crop productivity. Biochar also has the potential for industrial use for wastewater treatment, water purification, steel making, building insulation, and air pollution control. The current metadata analysis evaluated the importance of biochar for agricultural and industrial uses and its relevance for use in Kenya. A total of 120 reference materials comprising journal papers, conference proceedings, and book chapters were used. Numerous studies conducted across the globe have documented the positive effects of biochar in increasing available soil nutrients (increased by 28.6% and phosphorus by 2 folds), lowering bulk density by 3–31%, enhancing soil moisture storage by 18–108%, and boosting microbial activities in the soil thus enhancing nutrient cycling. The metadata analysis also showed that biochar can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 33% thereby mitigating climate change. Biochar equally increased maize yield by 32–135% and rice yield by 8.5-10.7%. The review also showed that biochar can play a crucial role in different industrial uses such as wastewater treatment, steel making, and water purification. Some of the main impediments to the adoption of biochar were; the lack of a regulatory framework to govern the sector and the lack of a decision support system for use by end users.

Biochar has the capacity to increase available soil nutrients, lower bulk density, enhance soil moisture storage and boost microbial activities hence enhance nutrient cycling.

It can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 33% thus mitigating climate change.

Biochar is equally vital in wastewater treatment, steel making, and water purification.

To boost the adoption of biochar, there is need to enact a regulatory framework to govern the sector.