review · Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology
Biochar-derived dissolved organic matter affects soil ecosystems by altering physicochemical properties, providing nutrients, and either stimulating or suppressing microbial growth according to its composition. Feedstock origin and pyrolysis temperature dictate the yield and chemical nature of this soluble matter. Sawdust and manure produce higher concentrations than straw, bone, or sludge. Lower pyrolysis temperatures at or below 300 degrees Celsius yield more aliphatic compounds from plant feedstocks, whereas temperatures at or above 500 degrees Celsius generate more aromatic structures. Plant-derived soluble matter exhibits higher humification and ultraviolet absorbance values than manure-derived matter. These indices correlate positively with total fatty acid methyl esters, but negatively with the abundance of fungi, actinomycetes, and arbuscular mycorrhizae. Long-term laboratory and field trials are still needed to determine the environmental fate of these dissolved compounds and enable safe agricultural use.
Biochar is widely considered for soil improvement, but its soluble fractions can either help or harm essential soil organisms depending on how it is produced. Clarifying how feedstock choices and processing temperatures affect soil microbial communities is critical for avoiding unintended damage to beneficial fungi and bacteria when using biochar on agricultural land.
This research provides design insights for biochar producers and agricultural input developers seeking to tailor biochar amendments for soil enhancement. Because the findings indicate that long-term field and laboratory validations are still needed to ensure safe utilisation, the underlying application remains at an early, pre-market stage of development.
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Biochar-derived dissolved organic matter (BDOM) plays key roles in soil ecosystem by affecting soil physicochemical and biological properties and supplying nutrients to soil microbes. It can either enhance or suppress the growth of certain soil microorganisms, depending on its composition and content of labile organic compounds. This review aims to discuss and summarize the role of BDOM in modifying soil microbial functioning, microbial community structure, and enzymatic activity. We mainly focus on the role of BDOM as a function of its concentration, type of feedstock biomass, and pyrolysis temperature (PT). Results show that saw dust- and manure-based biochars produce higher BDOM concentrations than straw-, bone-, and sludge-based biochars. The types of feedstock biomass and its PT determine BDOM characteristics and its interaction with soil microbial communities. Plant-derived biochar with pyrolysis temperature ≤300 °C often results in a more aliphatic BDOM than that with pyrolysis temperature ≥500 °C, which yields a more aromatic BDOM. BDOM of plant biochar contains higher specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA) and humification index (HIX) than that of manure biochar. The SUVA and HIX of BDOM positively correlate (R2=0.68–0.96) with the content of total fatty acid methyl esters, but negatively correlate with the abundances of actinomycetes, arbuscular mycorrhizae, and fungal communities. However, the environmental fate of BDOM in biochar amended soil requires long-term experiment, both in laboratory and field scales, to provide a full understating of BDOM interaction with soil organic matter and microorganisms and help to tailor a safe utilization of biochar in agroecosystems.
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DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2023.2190333
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