Soil and vegetation responses to biochar application in terms of its feedback on carbon sequestration under different environmental conditions—LiDELS model overview

Abstract Biochar application to soil shows promise for enhancing soil properties, increasing crop yields, improving water retention, and promoting carbon sequestration. While the direct effects of biochar on soil properties have been studied to some extent, the overall impact on ecosystem carbon balance remains uncertain, as field and lab studies typically do not account for interactions with vegetation. The LiDELS (LiBry-DETECT Layer Scheme) model offers a process-based approach to assess these soil-vegetation interactions and the potential for carbon sequestration in response to biochar application under diverse environmental conditions. This study presents an overview of the LiDELS model and its application to a sandy soil profile under the climate conditions of northern Germany. LiDELS simulates the impacts of biochar on key soil functions, including water retention, thermal properties, evapotranspiration rates, and net primary production (NPP). Model validation shows strong agreement with observed data for soil moisture, temperature, and CO 2 flux, confirming LiDELS’s applicability across varying soil textures, vegetation types, and biochar treatments. Results indicate that biochar application to sandy soil in Hamburg enhances soil water availability by 35%, increases NPP by 6%, raises soil CO 2 by 21%, and has no significant impact on soil respiration or soil temperature. LiDELS thus represents a valuable predictive tool for evaluating environmental feedback of biochar in agriculture and carbon management, supporting sustainable land use practices.