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Biochar Applications in Livestock Manure Management: Mitigation of Ammonia Emissions and Emerging Contaminants
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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.
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Sustainable Production of Compost from Animal Waste Using an In-vessel Bioreactor: A Health Policy Brief
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Researchers found that adding biochar (a charcoal-like material) to composted animal manure makes for cleaner, safer fertilizer—it helps break down harmful pollutants like heavy metals and even modestly reduces microplastic contamination. This matters because manure is widely used to fertilize crops, so reducing these contaminants during composting means fewer toxins and plastics potentially ending up in our soil, food, and water supply.
Advances and prospects of biochar in improving soil fertility, biochemical quality, and environmental applications
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This review examines how biochar, a charcoal-like material made from organic waste, can improve soil health and clean up pollutants including microplastics. Biochar's ability to absorb and trap contaminants makes it a promising tool for reducing microplastic pollution in agricultural soil. The findings suggest biochar could help limit the amount of microplastics that enter the food chain through crops grown in contaminated soil.
Biochar as a Climate-Smart Approach for Soil Health Improvement and Nano-/Microplastic Mitigation in Sustainable Agriculture: A Review
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Tiny plastic particles are building up in farm soils, potentially getting absorbed by crops we eat—but this review of existing research suggests that biochar (a charcoal-like material made from organic waste) can act like a sponge to trap these plastics in soil before they reach our food. It also improves soil quality and helps fight climate change, though scientists still need more research to understand its limits, especially in certain soil types.
Biochar as a Climate-Smart Approach for Soil Health Improvement and Nano-/Microplastics Mitigation in Sustainable Agriculture: A Review
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Tiny plastic particles are building up in farm soils, potentially working their way into the crops we eat—but this review of existing research shows that biochar (a charcoal-like material made from plant waste) can trap these plastics in the soil, keeping them from moving into food crops. Biochar also boosts soil health by helping it retain water and nutrients, meaning healthier farmland could mean safer, more plastic-free food on our plates. That said, this is a summary of past studies rather than new experiments, and biochar isn't a perfect fix—it can backfire in certain salty, high-pH soils.
Biochar as an Environment-Friendly Alternative for Multiple Applications
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This review summarizes how biochar, a charcoal-like material made from plant waste, can be used for carbon storage, improving soil health, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, biochar shows potential for reducing microplastic and heavy metal contamination in soil by binding these pollutants and preventing them from being absorbed by crops. This makes biochar a promising tool for protecting food safety in agricultural soils contaminated with microplastics.
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