Biochar immobilized microbes for sustainable soil remediation and agriculture enhancement: from lab to farmland
- 1College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
- 2Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China/ Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer, Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Collection and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, 100081, China
Abstract
Soil degradation and contamination pose a critical threat to global agricultural sustainability, necessitating innovative remediation strategies. Biochar-immobilized microbes (BIMs), which synergistically integrate physicochemical advantages of biochar with microbial metabolic functions, represent a transformative approach to enhance soil health and crop productivity. This review provides a data-driven analysis, with evidence from 92 published articles to summarize advancements in BIM development from 85 pot experiments and 11 field applications, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Biochar serves as a stable microbial habitat, enhancing colonization through adsorption, entrapment, covalent bonding, and crosslinking. Key factors such as biochar porosity, microbial surface characteristics, and environmental conditions critically influence microbe immobilization efficiency and functional longevity. The compiled data indicate that BIMs can ameliorate soil properties (e.g., elevating pH by 0.5–1.5 units, increasing cation exchange capacity by 12.25–39.05%), and enhance soil enzyme activities (e.g., urease, dehydrogenase). These improvements contribute to effective remediation of contaminated soils, with reported efficiencies up to 95% for heavy metals and 90% for organic pollutants. Furthermore, field applications demonstrate that BIMs can enhance crop yields by up to 45%, primarily through improved nutrient availability and stress resilience. However, scalability challenges persist, as field trials show variable microbial survival under climatic stresses. The transition from predominantly lab-scale research to fewer documented field validations highlights the need for more long-term, on-farm studies. By systematically bridging lab innovations to farmland practicality, BIMs align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, offering a promising pathway for soil restoration and sustainable agriculture. Future research must prioritize long-term field validations, lifecycle assessments, and farmer-centric optimization to unlock their full potential.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026biochar,
title = {{Biochar immobilized microbes for sustainable soil remediation and agriculture enhancement: from lab to farmland}},
author = {Xinyi Li and Qianyi Lyu and Caiting Han and Na Duan and Zhidan Liu and Miao Gao and Xiao Zhao},
journal = {Biochar},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1007/s42773-026-00613-z},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-026-00613-z},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Biochar immobilized microbes for sustainable soil remediation and agriculture enhancement: from lab to farmland
AU - Xinyi Li
AU - Qianyi Lyu
AU - Caiting Han
AU - Na Duan
AU - Zhidan Liu
AU - Miao Gao
AU - Xiao Zhao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/08
JO - Biochar
DO - 10.1007/s42773-026-00613-z
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-026-00613-z
AB - Soil degradation and contamination pose a critical threat to global agricultural sustainability, necessitating innovative remediation strategies. Biochar-immobilized microbes (BIMs), which synergistically integrate physicochemical advantages of biochar with microbial metabolic functions, represent a transformative approach to enhance soil health and crop productivity. This review provides a data-driven analysis, with evidence from 92 published articles to summarize advancements in BIM development from 85 pot experiments and 11 field applications, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Biochar serves as a stable microbial habitat, enhancing colonization through adsorption, entrapment, covalent bonding, and crosslinking. Key factors such as biochar porosity, microbial surface characteristics, and environmental conditions critically influence microbe immobilization efficiency and functional longevity. The compiled data indicate that BIMs can ameliorate soil properties (e.g., elevating pH by 0.5–1.5 units, increasing cation exchange capacity by 12.25–39.05%), and enhance soil enzyme activities (e.g., urease, dehydrogenase). These improvements contribute to effective remediation of contaminated soils, with reported efficiencies up to 95% for heavy metals and 90% for organic pollutants. Furthermore, field applications demonstrate that BIMs can enhance crop yields by up to 45%, primarily through improved nutrient availability and stress resilience. However, scalability challenges persist, as field trials show variable microbial survival under climatic stresses. The transition from predominantly lab-scale research to fewer documented field validations highlights the need for more long-term, on-farm studies. By systematically bridging lab innovations to farmland practicality, BIMs align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, offering a promising pathway for soil restoration and sustainable agriculture. Future research must prioritize long-term field validations, lifecycle assessments, and farmer-centric optimization to unlock their full potential.
SN - 2524-7867
SN - 2524-7972
ER -