All Issue

2026 Vol.59, Issue 2 Preview Page

Opinion

Biochar loss from rice paddies: A bottomless pit for carbon sequestration?
Nuri Baek1†
,
Se-In Lee12†
,
Husna Israt Pia1
,
Seo-Woo Park1
,
Eun-Seo Shin3
,
Tae-Yeon Lee4
,
Han-Yong Kim5**
,
Woo-Jung Choi6*
1Doctoral Student, Department of Rural & Bio-systems Engineering (Brain Korea 21), Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
2Researcher, National Institute of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Jeonbuk-do, Korea
3Masters Student, Department of Rural & Bio-systems Engineering (Brain Korea 21), Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
4Undergraduate Student, Department of Rural & Bio-systems Engineering (Brain Korea 21), Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
5Professor, Department of Applied Plant Science, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
6Professor, Department of Rural & Bio-systems Engineering (Brain Korea 21) & AgriBio Institute of Climate Change Management, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
*Corresponding Author
**Co-corresponding author
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
31 May 2026. pp. 209-216
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

The application of biochar (BC) in rice paddies holds great potential for sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). However, the efficiency of BC in enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) may be lower than expected due to potential BC loss. In this study, we propose several mechanisms and pathways of potential BC loss, including wind erosion during application, water erosion post-application, the downward migration of fine BC particles following physical disintegration, and microbial mineralization to CO2. Despite these potential pathways, our understanding of the fate of applied BC in rice fields remains limited. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate BC dynamics under actual rice cultivation conditions. We suggest that using 13C-labeled BC is the most feasible approach for tracing its fate. Furthermore, to mitigate BC loss via wind and water erosion, it is necessary to increase the sedimentation of BC by modifying its pore structure, thereby increasing its envelope density.

Possible mechanisms and pathways of biochar losses in rice paddies.
Keywords
Biochar loss
Envelope density
Particle size
Water erosion
Wind erosion
Microbial mineralization
References
1

Abbruzzini TF, Moreira MZ, de Camargo PB, Conz RF, Cerri CEP. 2017. Increasing rates of biochar application to soil induce stronger negative priming effect on soil organic carbon decomposition. Agric. Res. 6:389-398. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40003-017-0281-7

10.1007/s40003-017-0281-7
2

Ameloot N, Graber ER, Verheijen FGA, De Neve S. 2013. Interactions between biochar stability and soil organisms: review and research needs. Eur. J. Soil Sci. 64:379-390. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12064

10.1111/ejss.12064
3

Baek N, Pia HI, Park SW, Shin ES, Lee SI, Choi WJ. 2024. Too much biochar is not better than nothing. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 57:238-244. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.3.238

10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.3.238
4

Bekchanova M, Campion L, Bruns S, Kuppens T, Lehmann J, Jozefczak M, Cuypers A, Malina R. 2024. Biochar improves the nutrient cycle in sandy-textured soils and increases crop yield: a systematic review. Environ. Evid. 13:3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-024-00326-5

10.1186/s13750-024-00326-539294832PMC11376106
5

Brewer CE, Chuang VJ, Masiello CA, Gonnermann H, Gao X, Dugan B, Driver LE, Panzacchi P, Zygourakis K, Davies CA. 2014. New approaches to measuring biochar density and porosity. Biomass Bioenerg. 66:176-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.03.059

10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.03.059
6

Chagas JKM, de Figueiredo CC, Ramos MLG. 2022. Biochar increases soil carbon pools: Evidence from a global meta-analysis. J. Environ. Manage. 305:114403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114403

10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114403
7

Chalk P, Smith CJ. 2022. 13C methodologies for quantifying biochar stability in soil: A critique. Eur. J. Soil Sci. 73:e13245. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.13245

10.1111/ejss.13245
8

Chen J, Sun X, Li L, Liu X, Zhang B, Zheng J, Pan G. 2016. Change in active microbial community structure, abundance and carbon cycling in an acid rice paddy soil with the addition of biochar. Eur. J. Soil Sci. 67:857-867. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12388

10.1111/ejss.12388
9

Chen Z, He L, Ma J, Ma J, Ye J, Yu Q, Zou P, Sun W, Lin H, Wang F, Zhao X, Wang Q. 2024. Long-term successive biochar application increases plant lignin and microbial necromass accumulation but decreases their contributions to soil organic carbon in rice-wheat cropping system. GCB Bioenergy 16:e13137. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.13137

10.1111/gcbb.13137
10

Farrell M, Kuhn TK, Macdonald LM, Maddern TM, Murphy DV, Hall PA, Singh BP, Baumann K, Krull ES, Baldock JA. 2013. Microbial utilisation of biochar-derived carbon. Sci. Total Environ. 465:288-297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.03.090

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.03.090
11

Han KH, Lee SB, Oh YL, Song ES, Yun SI, Kwak JH. 2025. CO2 sequestration potential over 100 years of cattle manure biochar in soil as affected by different feedstocks and pyrolysis temperature. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 58:405-415. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.3.405

10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.3.405
12

Han KH, Yun SI, Choi DH, Lee SI. 2024. Net CO2 removal of rice husk biochar as soil amendment depending on energy reuse in the production stage. Korean J. Soil Sci. Fert. 57:130-139. https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.2.130

10.7745/KJSSF.2024.57.2.130
13

IBI (International Biochar Initiative). 2010. Guidelines on practical aspects of biochar application to field soil in various soil management systems. IBI, Ithaca, New York, USA.

14

IBI (International Biochar Initiative). 2015. Standardized product definition and product testing guidelines for biochar that is used in soil. IBI, Ithaca, New York, USA.

15

IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). 2006. IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories. pp. 27-43. In Page Eggleston HS et al. (Eds.) Agriculture, forestry and other land use, Vol. 4. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Hayama, Japan.

16

Lee JM, Jeong HC, Gwon HS, Lee HS, Park HR, Kim GS, Park DG, Lee SI. 2023. Effects of biochar on methane emissions and crop yields in East Asian paddy fields: A regional scale meta-analysis. Sustainability 15:9200. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129200

10.3390/su15129200
17

Leng L, Huang H. 2018. An overview of the effect of pyrolysis process parameters on biochar stability. Bioresour. Technol. 270:627-642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.09.030

10.1016/j.biortech.2018.09.030
18

Li L, Long A, Fossum B, Kaiser M. 2023. Effects of pyrolysis temperature and feedstock type on biochar characteristics pertinent to soil carbon and soil health: A meta-analysis. Soil Use Manage. 39:43-52. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12848

10.1111/sum.12848
19

Liang Y, Li X, Yang F, Liu S. 2023. Tracing the synergistic migration of biochar and heavy metals based on 13C isotope signature technique: Effect of ionic strength and flow rate. Sci. Total Environ. 859:160229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160229

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160229
20

Liu X, Qu J, Li L, Zhang AF, Zheng J, Zheng J, Pan G. 2012. Can biochar amendment be an ecological engineering technology to depress N2O emission in rice paddies?—A cross site field experiment from South China. Ecol. Eng. 42:168-173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.01.016

10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.01.016
21

Liu X, Zhou J, Chi Z, Zheng J, Li L, Zhang X, Zheng J, Cheng K, Bian R, Pan G. 2019. Biochar provided limited benefits for rice yield and greenhouse gas mitigation six years following an amendment in a fertile rice paddy. Catena 179:20-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2019.03.033

10.1016/j.catena.2019.03.033
22

Liu Z, Zhang W, Ma R, Li S, Song K, Zheng J, Wang Y, Bian R, Zhang X, Pan G. 2023. Biochar-plant interactions enhance nonbiochar carbon sequestration in a rice paddy soil. Commun. Earth Environ. 4:494. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01155-z

10.1038/s43247-023-01155-z
23

Lu H, Bian R, Xia X, Cheng K, Liu X, Liu Y, Wang P, Li Z, Zheng J, Zhang X, Li L, Joseph S, Drosos M, Pan G. 2020. Legacy of soil health improvement with carbon increase following one time amendment of biochar in a paddy soil - A rice farm trial. Geoderma 376:114567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114567

10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114567
24

Lyu J, Zimmerman AR. 2025. Large losses of pyrogenic carbon (biochar) and native soil carbon during a 15-month field study in North Florida, USA. Agriculture 15:300. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15030300

10.3390/agriculture15030300
25

Meng X, Zheng E, Hou D, Qin M, Meng F, Chen P, Qi Z. 2024. The effect of biochar types on carbon cycles in farmland soils: A meta-analysis. Sci. Total Environ. 930:172623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172623

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172623
26

Nan Q, Tang L, Chi W, Waqas M, Wu W. 2023. The implication from six years of field experiment: the aging process induced lower rice production even with a high amount of biochar application. Biochar 5:27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00218-w

10.1007/s42773-023-00218-w
27

Pia HI, Baek N, Park SW, Shin ES, Lee SI, Kim HY, Tang S, Cheng W, Kwak JH, Park HJ, Choi WJ. 2024. Luxury application of biochar does not enhance rice yield and methane mitigation: a review and data synthesis. J. Soils Sediments 24:2652-2668. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-024-03830-w

10.1007/s11368-024-03830-w
28

Rasse DP, Budai A, O’Toole A, Ma X, Rumpel C, Abiven S. 2017. Persistence in soil of Miscanthus biochar in laboratory and field conditions. PLoS One 12:e0184383. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0184383

10.1371/journal.pone.018438328873471PMC5584961
29

Silva FC, Borrego C, Keizer JJ, Amorim JH, Verheijen FGA. 2015. Effects of moisture content on wind erosion thresholds of biochar. Atmos. Environ. 123:121-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.10.070

10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.10.070
30

Song K, Jiang S, Liu Z, Cai Y, Liu W, Bian R, Zhang X, Zheng J, Li L. 2024. Biochar improves soil organic carbon sequestration potential in the topsoil and subsoil of a paddy field. Curr. Res. Environmental Sustainability 8:100267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100267

10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100267
31

Sriphirom P, Chidthaisong A, Yagi K, Tripetchkul S, Boonapatcharoen N, Towprayoon S. 2021. Effects of biochar on methane emission, grain yield, and soil in rice cultivation in Thailand. Carbon Manag. 12:109-121. https://doi.org/10.1080/17583004.2021.1885257

10.1080/17583004.2021.1885257
32

Tomczyk A, Sokołowska Z, Boguta P. 2020. Biochar physicochemical properties: pyrolysis temperature and feedstock kind effects. Rev. Environ. Sci. Bio-Technol. 19:191-215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-020-09523-3

10.1007/s11157-020-09523-3
33

Tong M, He L, Rong H, Li M, Kim H. 2020. Transport behaviors of plastic particles in saturated quartz sand without and with biochar/Fe3O4-biochar amendment. Water Res. 169:115284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.115284

10.1016/j.watres.2019.115284
34

Ventura M, Alberti G, Panzacchi P, Delle Vedove G, Miglietta F, Tonon G. 2019. Biochar mineralization and priming effect in a poplar short rotation coppice from a 3-year field experiment. Biol. Fertil. Soils 55:67-78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-018-1329-y

10.1007/s00374-018-1329-y
35

Wang D, Zhang W, Hao X, Zhou D. 2013. Transport of biochar particles in saturated granular media: effects of pyrolysis temperature and particle size. Environ. Sci. Technol. 47:821-828. https://doi.org/10.1021/es303794d

10.1021/es303794d
36

Wang J, Xiong Z, Kuzyakov Y. 2016. Biochar stability in soil: meta-analysis of decomposition and priming effects. GCB Bioenergy 8:512-523. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12266

10.1111/gcbb.12266
37

Wen S, Cui N, Wang Y, Gong D, Wang Z, Xing L, Wu Z, Zhang Y. 2025. Effect of biochar application on yield, soil carbon pools and greenhouse gas emission in rice fields: A global meta-analysis. Agric. For. Meteorol. 369:110571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110571

10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110571
38

Yang C, Dou S, Guo D, Zhao H. 2024. The application of biochar enhances soil organic carbon and rice yields. Agronomy 14:455. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14030455

10.3390/agronomy14030455
39

Yuan R, Salam M, Miao X, Yang Y, Li H, Wei Y. 2023. Potential disintegration and transport of biochar in the soil-water environment: A case study towards purple soil. Environ. Res. 222:115383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115383

10.1016/j.envres.2023.115383
40

Zhang Q, Du Z, Lou Y, He X. 2015. A one-year short-term biochar application improved carbon accumulation in large macroaggregate fractions. Catena 127:26-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2014.12.009

10.1016/j.catena.2014.12.009
41

Zhang Q, Song Y, Wu Z, Yan X, Gunina A, Kuzyakov Y, Xiong Z. 2020. Effects of six-year biochar amendment on soil aggregation, crop growth, and nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiencies in a rice-wheat rotation. J. Clean Prod. 242:118435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118435

10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118435
Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizer
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국토양비료학회
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국토양비료학회 학회지
  • Volume : 59
  • No :2
  • Pages :209-216
  • Received Date : 2026-04-21
  • Revised Date : 2026-05-10
  • Accepted Date : 2026-05-11
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2026.59.2.209
Journal Informaiton Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
KJSSF Online Submission
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • crossref crossmark
  • crossref cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close