The role of biochar in enhancing soil health & interactions with rhizosphere properties and enzyme activities in organic fertilizer substitution

Modern agriculture faces a dual challenge: sustainable crop production and reducing the environmental impacts of excessive chemical fertilizers use, which leads to soil degradation, nutrient leaching and declining microbial diversity. Addressing these issues, biochar, a carbon-rich by product of pyrolysis, has emerged as a promising soil amendment due to its ability to enhance soil health, support nutrient cycling, and contribute to climate mitigation. However, its interactive effects with rhizosphere dynamics and soil enzymatic process, particularly when used with organic fertilizers, remain insufficiently explored. This review compiles current knowledge on the short-term and long-term impacts of biochar,…