Biochar helps Mediterranean vineyards hold water and fight erosion
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Soil conservation benefits of biochar in Mediterranean vineyards: enhancing the soil sponge function and mitigating water erosion
view moreCredit: Behrouz Gholamahmadi, Carla S. S. Ferreira, Oscar Gonzalez-Pelayo, Ana Catarina Bastos & Frank G. A. Verheijen
Mediterranean vineyards face a growing threat from heavy rains and soil degradation that strip away fertile topsoil. New research led by scientists at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, shows that adding biochar, a carbon-rich material made from plant waste, can dramatically reduce erosion and improve the soil’s ability to store water.
The study, published in Biochar, is among the first to test biochar’s impact on the “soil sponge function” under natural rainfall in sloping Mediterranean vineyards. Over 18 months, researchers used outdoor lysimeters filled with vineyard soil and amended half with 4 percent biochar produced from pine wood chips.
Results showed striking benefits. Biochar-treated soils reduced surface runoff by an average of 45 percent and cut overall soil erosion by two-thirds compared with untreated soil. The erosion rate dropped from 11.1 to 3.7 tons per hectare per year. Biochar also improved soil structure, lowering bulk density by 7 percent and increasing infiltration by 28 percent. During dry periods, biochar-amended soils stored up to three times more water than control soils.
“Biochar acted like a sponge in the soil, soaking up rainfall and releasing it slowly,” said lead author Behrouz Gholamahmadi of the University of Aveiro’s Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM). “This helped prevent intense runoff that carries away topsoil and nutrients.”
The team found that biochar’s porous structure and coarse particles enhanced the soil’s capacity to absorb and retain water, even under intense Mediterranean rainstorms. The effects were especially strong during dry months when soil moisture was lowest.
Co-author Frank Verheijen noted that vineyard soils are often exposed and located on slopes, making them highly vulnerable to erosion. “Our findings show that biochar can be a sustainable management tool to increase vineyard resilience to extreme weather and support long-term soil health,” he said.
The researchers recommend monitoring biochar’s effects through full hydrological cycles to capture seasonal changes and variations caused by atmospheric river events. They also see potential to combine biochar with other soil conservation practices such as cover crops or mulching.
The study highlights biochar’s promise as a climate-smart strategy for Mediterranean agriculture, capable of conserving soil, improving water use efficiency, and helping combat land degradation across Europe’s most erosion-prone vineyards.
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Journal Reference: Gholamahmadi, B., Ferreira, C.S.S., Gonzalez-Pelayo, O. et al. Soil conservation benefits of biochar in Mediterranean vineyards: enhancing the soil sponge function and mitigating water erosion. Biochar 7, 106 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-025-00483-x
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About Biochar
Biochar is the first journal dedicated exclusively to biochar research, spanning agronomy, environmental science, and materials science. It publishes original studies on biochar production, processing, and applications—such as bioenergy, environmental remediation, soil enhancement, climate mitigation, water treatment, and sustainability analysis. The journal serves as an innovative and professional platform for global researchers to share advances in this rapidly expanding field.
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Journal
Biochar
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Soil conservation benefits of biochar in Mediterranean vineyards: enhancing the soil sponge function and mitigating water erosion
Nitrogen-fortified nanobiochar boosts soil health and rice productivity
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Nitrogen-fortified nanobiochar impacts soil properties, root growth and basmati rice yield
view moreCredit: Aakash Kumar Saini, Vikas Abrol, Peeyush Sharma, Cherukumalli Srinivasarao, Avanish Singh Parmar, Marcos Lado, Ajay Kumar, Manish Kumar, Abeer Hashem, Khalid F. Almutairi & Elsayed Fathi Abd-Allah
A new study in Biochar reveals that nitrogen-fortified nanobiochar could significantly improve soil fertility and rice yields while reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. Researchers from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, India, found that combining a reduced nitrogen fertilizer dose with nanobiochar enhanced both soil properties and crop performance in nitrogen-deficient soils.
Nanobiochar, biochar particles engineered at the nanoscale, has attracted attention for its porous structure, high surface area, and ability to retain and slowly release nutrients. When fortified with nitrogen, it acts as a “smart” soil amendment that improves nutrient availability and water retention, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional fertilizers.
The team tested twelve treatments in a pot experiment with basmati rice, comparing full and partial doses of mineral nitrogen fertilizer with varying rates of nitrogen-fortified nanobiochar (1, 2.5, and 5 kilograms per hectare). The best performance was achieved with 75 percent of the recommended fertilizer dose combined with 5 kilograms per hectare of nanobiochar. This treatment increased soil moisture, infiltration rate, and aggregate stability by up to 42 percent compared with conventional fertilization.
Soil organic carbon and available nitrogen, ammonium, and nitrate levels also rose markedly, enhancing root growth and nutrient uptake. Root weight, length, and volume increased by 24.6, 15.8, and 18.7 percent, respectively, while grain yield climbed by 26.8 percent compared to the same fertilizer rate without nanobiochar. The study found strong positive correlations between yield and soil physical and chemical properties, confirming the role of nanobiochar in improving soil structure and nutrient dynamics.
Beyond boosting productivity, the researchers highlight environmental advantages. “Incorporating nitrogen-fortified nanobiochar allows farmers to cut fertilizer use without sacrificing yield, which could lower greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient losses,” said lead author Aakash Kumar Saini. “It also transforms agricultural residues such as rice husk into high-value soil amendments, closing the loop for sustainable farming.”
The findings suggest that integrating engineered nanobiochar with moderate fertilizer inputs could strengthen soil health, enhance crop resilience, and support climate-smart agriculture in regions struggling with nutrient depletion and fertilizer overuse.
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Journal Reference: Saini, A.K., Abrol, V., Sharma, P. et al. Nitrogen-fortified nanobiochar impacts soil properties, root growth and basmati rice yield. Biochar 7, 102 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-025-00503-w
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About Biochar
Biochar is the first journal dedicated exclusively to biochar research, spanning agronomy, environmental science, and materials science. It publishes original studies on biochar production, processing, and applications—such as bioenergy, environmental remediation, soil enhancement, climate mitigation, water treatment, and sustainability analysis. The journal serves as an innovative and professional platform for global researchers to share advances in this rapidly expanding field.
Follow us on Facebook, X, and Bluesky.
Journal
Biochar
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Nitrogen-fortified nanobiochar impacts soil properties, root growth and basmati rice yield
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