Biochar–Soil–Plant Interactions

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant–Soil Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 139

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Environmental Sciences Department, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
Interests: physiochemical interaction; fate and transport; PFAS/antibiotics/microplastics/heavy metals; plant uptake; soil properties; environmental functional materials

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Guest Editor
College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, 130, Changjiang West Road, Hefei, China
Interests: environmental microbiology; rice–soil interactions related to antibiotics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The relationship between plants and soil lies at the core of global food security, and biochar—produced through the pyrolysis of biomass—has emerged as a promising tool to strengthen this relationship. Its application has shown potential to improve nutrient and water retention, regulate microbial activity and biodiversity, stabilize soil organic carbon, and reduce the mobility and bioavailability of pollutants. These properties not only enhance soil fertility and crop productivity but also contribute to climate change mitigation by sequestering carbon and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite these benefits, several uncertainties remain. The performance of biochar varies across different soil types, climates, and crop systems, while its long-term effects on soil health, plant physiology, and ecosystem services are not fully understood. Questions also persist regarding its role in carbon offsets and life cycle sustainability.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform to advance knowledge in this area and to clarify biochar’s potential and limitations in sustainable agricultural practices. We welcome studies ranging from mechanistic insights and field applications to modeling approaches and life cycle assessments, aiming to provide a comprehensive perspective on biochar’s role in sustainable agriculture.

Dr. Jiahui Hu
Dr. Hebin Liang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • sustainable agriculture
  • climate change
  • carbon offset
  • one health
  • biochar-based amendment
  • organic pollutants and heavy metals
  • nutrient dynamics

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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