Biochar from agricultural crop residues: Environmental, production, and life cycle assessment overview

Abstract

In circular economies, it is imperative to implement effective environmental management solutions to address resource depletion. Over the past few years, there has been a growing recognition of the potential of agricultural crop waste in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promoting global carbon neutrality. Despite lacking practical management options, open-field burning of crop residue contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. This challenge may be addressed by producing biochar through the pyrolysis of agricultural crop residues. A biochar application in agriculture can contribute to reducing global warming through the sequestration of atmospheric carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the soil. As part of the life cycle assessment of biochar, the yield and greenhouse gas emissions during its production are critical factors, which emphasize the importance of selecting a production method suitable for producing biochar. The objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive overview of the environmental and agronomic advantages associated with biochar, along with a detailed analysis of its life cycle assessment (LCA). Furthermore, it provides an overview of how biochar can facilitate local energy production and contribute to sustainable resource management within the nexus of agroecosystems, environment, and energy.