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Biochar Applications in Livestock Manure Management: Mitigation of Ammonia Emissions and Emerging Contaminants
Summary
This review pulls together existing research on adding biochar (a charcoal-like material) to farm animal manure, finding it can cut smelly ammonia gas by up to 97%, break down antibiotics, reduce antibiotic-resistant bacteria by up to 98%, and even lower microplastic levels by 15-64%. This matters because manure runoff can spread antibiotic resistance and contaminants into our water, soil, and food supply, so a cheap, natural additive that tackles multiple pollution problems at once could make farms safer for nearby communities — though scientists still need more real-world testing before it's ready for widespread use.
The management of livestock manure is associated with substantial ammonia (NH3) emissions and the accumulation of emerging contaminants, including antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and microplastics, posing risks to environmental quality and public health. Biochar has emerged as a promising strategy for mitigating gaseous emissions and reducing contaminant mobility during manure storage and composting processes. This review synthesizes recent research on the application of biochar in livestock manure management systems, focusing on NH3 emissions, antibiotic degradation, ARG reduction, and microplastic removal. Particular attention is given to the effectiveness of biochar in mitigating pollutants during manure storage, housing operations, and composting processes. Across the literature, reported NH3 mitigation efficiencies vary widely, from negligible effects to reductions exceeding 90–97%, depending on feedstock type, pyrolysis conditions, particle size, and application strategy. Biochar also promotes antibiotic degradation and ARG mitigation, with reductions of up to 98% reported in composting systems. Emerging evidence further suggests that biochar can reduce microplastics by approximately 15–64% in sludge composting. Plant-derived and chemically modified biochars generally outperform manure-derived biochars due to higher surface area, cation exchange capacity, and greater abundance of functional groups. The review highlights that activation treatments, co-composting strategies, and microbial interactions are key factors controlling pollutant mitigation efficiency. Despite promising outcomes, large-scale application remains limited by economic constraints, variability in biochar properties, and the lack of long-term field-scale validation. Future research should prioritize standardized production protocols, field implementation studies, and integrated environmental and economic assessments to support the practical adoption of biochar in sustainable livestock waste management systems.