Biochar is obtained by thermally treating the remaining agricultural biomass from plants at relatively low temperatures between 200 and 300 degrees Celsius and in the absence of oxygen, i.e. between anaerobic conditions and this process is called pyrolysis.

Glaser, Fischer [1], Researchers have recently increased interest in biochar, which is produced from biomass remaining after harvest and its use for soil amendment has been studied in various African countries. The thermally treated mass, which is called biochar, can improve the quality of soil that is poor in nutrients, because it removes many bacteria harmful to the roots and also keeps some insects away. It repairs and improves soil properties and helps to fix nitrogen as well. The most expensive 10 masks in the world, not to mention its use in filtering air, water and others, is not a place to go into.

Al-Wabali [2], confirmed the use of biochar in the composting process to produce compost fertilizer in ways of benefiting and recycling organic waste by accelerating the composting process and reducing the loss of nutrients and other important nutrients for plant growth and reducing the emission of toxic gases and the loss of ammonia and reducing the release of odors, which leads to the formation of Compost, which has an important economic impact.

The researchers of the Wilken (Japanese) [3], Center for Accumulated Materials Science showed that biochar treated with relatively low temperatures helps to increase nutrients in the soil and thus improve poor soil, as its porous nature contributes to the activation of bacteria and the increase of organic acids, which improve soil fertility and increase The nutrients in it are potassium, phosphorus, sodium, sulfur and smaller amounts of manganese, which leads to providing a suitable environment for plant growth as a result of soil integrity and improvement of its chemical properties, in addition to the fact that biochar has an effect in improving the physical properties of the soil by retaining quantities of water and tolerating thirst, Which helps in raising the growth efficiency of the roots and prolonging their life.              

An experiment was conducted [4], on the effect of pine wood charcoal on (Rose) plants and four concentrations of algae and charcoal were used: the first concentration was (100) peat and (0) charcoal and the second was (75) peat and 25% charcoal. The third is 50% peat and 50% coal and the fourth is 25% peat and 75% coal. Concentrations (second, third and fourth) of the experiment contribute to increasing the electrical conductivity and the percentage of carbon, potassium and sodium in the leaves, as well as improving floral growth (the number    and diameter  of flowers) and vegetative growth, increasing the percentage of chlorophyll in the leaves and also led to an increase in the percentage of magnesium in the roots. That is, treating the soil with charcoal contributes to improving the photosynthesis process. Mounib et al. [5].

Khamis [6], Improving nutrient-poor soils is crucial in dry African regions, where agricultural productivity has declined dramatically as a result of the dry climate and the soil's lack of nutrients needed for plant growth, especially as it is on the verge of a large population growth over the next 100 years.

Aridisols dry soils are widespread in Botswana and other African countries, which limits the growth of important plants that constitute a source of national income for these countries, such as Jatropha curses trees, which are a source of biomass, which prompted researchers to develop methods for modifying soil properties to enhance agricultural production of lands not cultivated.

Alfatlawi et al. [7], confirmed that the use of charcoal in the cultivation of Claudiolus (Stronggold) reduced infection with viruses and fungi and improved soil texture, which facilitated the process of absorbing nutrients. The physical properties showed that the soil treated with biochar increased its ability to retain water. They also showed much higher levels of tolerance to the external pressure applied over them and they needed less time to return to their normal position, which made their body and structure sound. The chemical properties of the soil treated with biochar showed a higher availability of the salts needed for plant growth, as the levels of potassium, phosphorus, sulfur and sodium were greater than in the untreated soil.

Alfatlawi et al. [7], mentioned that the use of charcoal with bacteria on Cladiolis plant (Priscila) at a concentration of 10 gm of charcoal led to the improvement of most of the characteristics of vegetative and flowering growth and the formation of corms with the reduction of pollutants in the soil. As for the growth of plants, they grew in the presence of biochar with a thicker stem. And with longer roots and were heavier than the plants that grew in soil not treated with biochar, they also absorbed more quantities of potassium and less amounts of manganese, the element known to inhibit plant growth, which means in the end that the initial growth and absorption improved in the soil treated with biochar.

Alfatlawi et al. [7], showed that the use of biochar at a concentration of 10 gm in the cultivation of the (Plumtart) variety led to an improvement in vegetative and flowering growth and an increase in the number of corms, as well as an increase in the activity of beneficial oozobacteria, which led to an improvement in the physical and chemical properties of the soil, as well as the acid levels The organic matter that supports plant growth was better in the soil treated with biochar, which supports the idea that biomass can enhance soil fertility. The treated soil showed an improvement in its metabolism, as the metabolites in these soils allowed the availability of microbial evidence that promoted plant growth.

Charcoal is useful for plants and soil, not ash. We have never said that ash is beneficial to soil, especially the soil of the Arab world. Its alkalinity increases with the addition of ash. Therefore, beware of adding it in particular. I mean, let us differentiate between them and we mean by charcoal that it is the result of the combustion of wood anaerobes under the muffler in the absence of air in general and oxygen. Charcoal we use in grills, but Before we burn it and we never intended the ash remaining from combustion in the presence of air and oxygen, it harms the Arab soil. As for its use, it is added at a rate that does not exceed 15% of the total amount of agricultural medium and it is measured in liters, not in kilograms, because a liter is lighter than a kilogram and the measures of agricultural medium are always measured in liters, unlike chemical fertilizers Which is in grams. Well, I mean, if we plant in a pot, for example, with a size of 100 liters, we will add 15 liters of granulated charcoal. One grain does not exceed half a cm. I mean, we break the charcoal into small pieces suitable for adding them to the soil, which is what we use in pots that supplement the soil of the agricultural medium because it is rich in benefits that benefit the plant. Soil is similar to volcanic stone in many characteristics and features, but it may be more useful than it, for example but not limited to. It is also porous and light and retains moisture and allows the exchange of oxygen at the same time. It also keeps some insects away, repairs and improves.

Charcoal protects plants from agricultural pests such as root beetles and also contains sulfur and iron. Wood charcoal is added in winter and early spring. It is also recommended to be added before or after the emergence of seedlings and germinated seeds, or at least two weeks before or after seedling. Wood charcoal is a complement in every sense of the word to organic fertilizers consisting of the remains of plants, animals and poultry and it neutralizes the acidity of the soil.

With these truly remarkable properties of soil treated with dried residual agricultural biomass, or so-called biochar, the researchers stress that uses of such soils could be very beneficial to local and global ecosystems and that their next step is to elucidate the complex interactions of commensal microbes. With plants and plants for more efficient growth in nutrient poor environments. Gancario, [4].

1. Fischer, D. and B. Glaser. "Synergism between Compost and Biochar for Sustainable Soil Amelioration, Management and Organic Waste." Management of Organic Wastes, edited by S. Kumer, InTech, 2012, pp. 167–198.

2. Al-Wabel, Muhammad Ibrahim and Adel Rabie Othman. The Use of Biochar in the Composting Process to Produce Compost. College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2015.

3. Japanese Wilkin Center for Science and Accumulated Materials. Using Biochar as Soil Conditioners. www.syr-res.com

4. Giancarlo, F. et al. "Effects of Conifer Wood Biochar as a Substrate Component on Ornamental Performance, Photosynthetic Activity and Mineral Composition of Potted Rosa Rugosa." 2017, pp. 519–528. 

5. Munib. The Effect of Using Biochar Compared to Organic Fertilizer and Mineral Fertilizer. www.syr-res.com.

6. Khamis, Mohamed Hisham. Marketing Analysis of Milkfish in Pitue Village, Ma'rang District, Pangkep Regency. Horticultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Arab Republic of Egypt, 2020.

7. Al-Fatlawi, K.A.E. et al. "Effect of Amino Acids and Azotobacter with Charcoal on the Growth and Flowering of the Gladiolus Plant 'Stronggold' Cultivar." International Journal of Agricultural and Statistical Sciences, vol. 8, no. 1, 2022, pp. 305–31