A review: progress in the mitigation of soil continuous cropping obstacles by biochar application in agricultural system / Zijing Zhou, Kaiyue Sun and Weixiang Qian

Under the dual pressure of agricultural economic development and limited land resources, the continuous cultivation in same area has been a mainstream pattern. The continuous cropping obstacle has seriously impaired the soil physicochemical properties and soil microflora, hindering the sustainable development of agriculture. Various strategies have been used to mitigate the negative effects caused by continuous cropping; however, they cannot be solved effectively. Recently, biochar, as a new type of soil conditioner, has been found to be able to utilize its special physicochemical properties and adsorption properties to improve soil quality conditions. Besides, biochar application is one of the effective methods to reduce the obstacles of soil continuous cropping. In this paper, we reviewed the causes of soil continuous cropping obstacles and their effects on soil and plant, and emphatically analyzed the regulatory role and potential limitations of biochar in alleviating soil continuous cropping obstacles. For example, the type of raw material, pyrolysis conditions of biochar and differences in soil types would yield different effects on the efficiency of biochar on soil continuous cropping obstacles mitigation, Furthermore, other influenced factors, such as the adsorption of biochar on root secretion, the interactions among plants, soils, and microorganisms, need to be investigated. This article provides theoretical support for the application of biochar in in alleviating soil continuous cropping obstacles.