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Biochar as a Climate-Smart Approach for Soil Health Improvement and Nano-/Microplastics Mitigation in Sustainable Agriculture: A Review
Summary
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.
Nano-/microplastics (NMPs) accumulation in agricultural soils has become a growing environmental concern due to its negative impacts on soil health, crop productivity, and food safety. Biochar has gained considerable attention as a sustainable soil amendment capable of improving soil quality and mitigating emerging pollutants. This review examines the role of biochar and modified biochar in reducing the mobility, bioavailability, and plant uptake of NMPs through adsorption, aggregation, and immobilization mechanisms. In addition, biochar improves soil fertility by enhancing nutrient retention, water holding capacity, soil structure, and microbial activity, while also contributing to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. However, certain biochars may negatively affect saline–alkaline soils because of their high pH and salinity. Generally, biochar application offers multiple environmental benefits, including soil restoration, pollutant mitigation, and enhanced agricultural sustainability. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding the mechanisms by which biochar influences NMPs behavior in soil–plant systems and highlights current knowledge gaps and future research directions needed to support its effective application in sustainable agriculture.