Abstract
Abstract Biochar is a stable, carbon rich by product obtained from pyrolysis of agricultural biomass and its amendment in soil represents a promising ecofriendly frontier in sustainable crop production. Production of biochar using various pyrolysis techniques offers a sustainable strategy for management of agricultural residues, forestry wastes, and other organic materials. Amendment of biochar (BC) in the soil improves soil structure and nutrient retention while serving as a supportive habitat for colonization of beneficial microbial communities that enhance nutrient availability and nutrient use efficiency, resulting in reduced fertilizer dependency of crop plants. Moreover, application of biochar has also emerged as a successful approach for boosting soil carbon sequestration, immobilization of heavy metals and organic pollutants, and in mitigation of greenhouse gases, thus contributing to ecological environment protection. Biochar is currently also gaining attention as a potentially valuable input for mitigating the impact of climate change-induced abiotic and biotic stresses in agriculture. In addition, fertilization with biochar alone or combined treatment with organic matter and/or beneficial microbes represents a promising approach in sustainable crop production in nutrient deficient soils under diverse agroecological conditions. However, the effectiveness of biochar varies with feedstock type, pyrolysis conditions and soil-crop-climate interactions. Therefore, tailored approaches considering all these factors are essential to maximize the benefits from biochar amendment. This review highlights current knowledge and technological challenges by linking fundamental mechanisms with applied outcomes for translating biochar-microbial innovations into commercially viable, environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural systems. Graphical Abstract