Biochar: A review of its impact on pesticide behavior in soil environments and its potential applications

Published Date
Journal of Environmental Sciences
June 2016, Vol.44:269–279, doi:10.1016/j.jes.2015.12.027

Review

• Author 

• Mahdi Safaei Khorram 
• Qian Zhang
• Dunli Lin
• Yuan Zheng
• Hua Fang ^,
• Yunlong Yu ^,

• Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

Received 12 August 2015. Revised 9 October 2015. Accepted 16 December 2015. Available online 8 March 2016. 

Abstract

Biochar is produced from the pyrolysis of carbon-rich plant- and animal-residues under low oxygen and high temperature conditions and has been increasingly used for its positive role in soil compartmentalization through activities such as carbon sequestration and improving soil quality. Biochar is also considered a unique adsorbent due to its high specific surface area and highly carbonaceous nature. Therefore, soil amendments with small amounts of biochar could result in higher adsorption and, consequently, decrease the bioavailability of contaminants to microbial communities, plants, earthworms, and other organisms in the soil. However, the mechanisms affecting the environmental fate and behavior of organic contaminants, especially pesticides in biochar-amended soil, are not well understood. The purpose of this work is to review the role of biochar in primary processes, such as adsorption–desorption and leaching of pesticides. Biochar has demonstrable effects on the fate and effects of pesticides and has been shown to affect the degradation and bioavailability of pesticides for living organisms. Moreover, some key aspects of agricultural and environmental applications of biochar are highlighted.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

• Adsorption–desorption
• Bioavailability
• Biochars
• Degradation
• Earthworm
• Leaching

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  Corresponding authors.

Copyright © 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.

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