Biochar: A Sustainable Solution for Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Enhancing Soil Productivity—A Review

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) resulting from human activities significantly impact crop production and agricultural sustainability, necessitating innovative solutions to mitigate their effects. One promising approach is employing biochar for GHG mitigation, providing a potential means to offset emissions and enhance crop productivity sustainably. We conducted a comprehensive review by sourcing reputable academic research from various search engines, focusing on terms such as biochar, methane (CH 4 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), GHG, soil organic carbon, agricultural land and cropland. The whole review was divided into three major portions: GHGs, the effect of GHG emission on crop productivity and biochar as an agent of GHG mitigation and further subtopics were designed under each. The review revealed that GHG emissions, including CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 O, detrimentally affect crop productivity, posing a serious threat to global food security. Studies demonstrated that biochar aids in mitigating atmospheric CO 2 by sequestration of C. Studies also demonstrated that biochar can positively influence soil physical properties, such as reducing bulk density and enhancing soil moisture, potentially leading to a decrease in soil N 2 O emissions. The decrease in soil N 2 O emissions was due to the maintenance of optimal oxygen levels in the soil by biochar. Biochar has been utilized to mitigate methane (CH 4 ) emissions. The reduction in CH 4 due to biochar can be linked to the inhibitory effect of biochar chemicals on soil methanogens. However, further research and widespread adoption of biochar use are imperative to fully realize its global potential.