Biochar Production from Agricultural Waste for Sustainable Soil Management and Climate Change Mitigation: A Comprehensive Review

Dick Dick Maulana; Hee-Deung Park

doi:10.29303/jrpb.v14i1.1213

Biochar Production from Agricultural Waste for Sustainable Soil Management and Climate Change Mitigation

A Comprehensive Review

Authors

Dick Dick Maulana , Hee-Deung Park

DOI:

10.29303/jrpb.v14i1.1213

Published:

2026-03-26

Issue:

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2026): Jurnal Ilmiah Rekayasa Pertanian dan Biosistem

Keywords:

Biochar, Agricultural waste, Sustainable agriculture, Soil health, Climate change mitigation

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Dick Maulana, D., & Park, H.-D. (2026). Biochar Production from Agricultural Waste for Sustainable Soil Management and Climate Change Mitigation: A Comprehensive Review. Jurnal Ilmiah Rekayasa Pertanian Dan Biosistem, 14(1), 17–32. https://doi.org/10.29303/jrpb.v14i1.1213

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Abstract

Climate change and land degradation threaten global ecology and food security. Biochar, produced via oxygen-limited thermochemical conversion of agricultural waste, offers a multifunctional solution. This narrative review with meta-analysis of quantitative outcomes (2010-2025 literature) synthesizes biochar production techniques, physicochemical properties, and sustainable agriculture applications, demonstrating biochar's critical role in soil health improvement and climate change mitigation. Studies were selected based on: (1) peer-reviewed English-language journals, (2) agricultural waste feedstocks, (3) quantitative soil/crop/environmental outcomes, (4) field-relevant research, and (5) methodological rigor. Recent research documents biochar's transformative effects on soil physical (water retention +18-25% in sandy soils), chemical (pH 7-11, CEC enhancement), and biological properties, particularly in degraded, acidic, or nutrient-poor soils. Performance depends on feedstock type (agricultural residues, woody biomass, manure), pyrolysis temperature (350-700°C), and residence time (0.5-4 hours). Field trials report yield increases of 10-340% (meta-analysis range), carbon sequestration of 3.7 t CO2eq/t stable biochar, and GHG reductions of 30-50% N2O and 12-25% CH4 across diverse soil-crop systems. Co-application with fertilizers/compost optimizes nutrient use efficiency, though performance varies by soil type and environment, necessitating site-specific strategies. Economic barriers, production costs, and carbon market access influence adoption. Critical gaps include long-term field data and mechanistic insights into biochar-soil-microbe interactions. Future priorities encompass engineered biochar (nanoparticle-modified for targeted functions), precision applications, and policy frameworks. Strategic, evidence-based deployment protocols will maximize benefits while acknowledging context-dependent limitations, quality variability, and trade-offs requiring careful management.

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Author Biography

Dick Dick Maulana, Universitas Islam Nusantara

He is currently pursuing his PhD in Environmental Engineering at Korea University, where he is researching the mechanisms of Direct Interspecies Electron Transfer (DIET) in microbial ecology. His research involves the addition of conductive materials to enhance methanogenesis in anaerobic digestion systems. He previously studied soil science, agricultural science, environmental science, public health, and, recently, environmental engineering (WtE).

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Biochar Production from Agricultural Waste for Sustainable Soil Management and Climate Change Mitigation

A Comprehensive Review

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