Abstract
Growing attention has been paid to greenhouse gases (GHG)Â viz. carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), due to their contribution to global warming. Biochar is used widely in agricultural soils to improve some soil properties, enhance soil nutrients, and mitigate GHG emissions. However, the previous studies on acidic soils reported contradictory results of CO2, CH4, or N2O emissions due to various factors that vary based on the properties of soil and biochar. The data on the impact of biochar application on GHG emissions in alkaline soils are limited, and because of the alkaline nature of biochar, it is expected to behave similarly as on acidic soil. However, contradictory results are noticed also in the alkaline soils, especially in CO2 and CH4. Therefore, this review gives insight into the contradictory results of CO2, CH4, or N2O emissions as affected by biochar with a special focus on alkaline soils and the potential factors included in this process.
Article Highlights
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This review is aimed at summarizing the effect of applying biochar on GHG emissions.
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The data on the impact of biochar application on GHG emissions in alkaline soils are scarce, and because of the alkaline nature of biochar, it is expected not a different behavior compared to acidic soil.
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This review is designed to give insight into the recent scientific research of the contradictory results of applying biochar to GHG emissions with particular insight into alkaline soils.
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HE-R and MH outlined the review. HE and FE collected the literature. HE, FE, and HE-R wrote the manuscript draft. MH edited the manuscript and prepared the figures. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
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Elbasiouny, H., Elbehiry, F., El-Ramady, H. et al. Contradictory Results of Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions as Affected by Biochar Application: Special Focus on Alkaline Soils. Int J Environ Res 15, 903–920 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-021-00358-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-021-00358-6