In a study published in the Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production, Soheil Salimi Trazoj, Adel Reyhanitabar, and Nosratollah Najafi investigated how biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More and phosphorus affect rapeseed growth in alkaline loamy soil under greenhouse conditions. The research highlights the potential of biochar to improve soil fertility and reduce the need for excessive phosphorus fertilizer application.  

Phosphorus is crucial for plant growth, but its availability in soil is often limited. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More, can improve phosphorus availabilityPhosphorus is another essential nutrient for plant growth, but it can sometimes be locked up in the soil and unavailable to plants. Biochar can help release phosphorus from the soil and make it more accessible to plants, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.   More and soil health. This study explores the combined effects of biochar and phosphorus on rapeseed, an important oilseed crop.  The researchers conducted a greenhouse experiment using different combinations of biochar and phosphorus. They measured several factors, including leaf chlorophyll index, shoot and root dry weights, seed oil content, and the concentration of key nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.  

The results showed that adding phosphorus fertilizer and biochar increased leaf chlorophyll index, shoot and root dry weights, and seed oil content compared to the control. Notably, the combined application of 2% biochar and 20 mg of phosphorus per kg of soil produced the same amount of rapeseed shoot dry matter as 40 mg of phosphorus per kg of soil alone.  Interestingly, while biochar improved growth, applying wheat straw decreased these characteristics compared to the control. This highlights that biochar’s effects are distinct from those of the original biomass.  

The combined use of biochar and phosphorus increased phosphorus and potassium uptake in the rapeseed shoots. However, wheat straw with phosphorus reduced shoot nitrogen concentration, although it increased phosphorus and potassium levels.  The study concludes that biochar derived from wheat straw pyrolyzed at 300°C can enhance rapeseed growth in alkaline loam soil and decrease the need for phosphorus fertilizer. This is particularly important for sustainable agriculture, as it can help reduce the environmental impact and cost of phosphorus fertilizers.  

Source: Salimi Trazoj, S., Reyhanitabar, A., & Najafi, N. (2025). The effects of Biochar and Phosphorus on rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Dry Matter, Oil content and some Nutrient Uptake in an Alkaline Loamy Soil in Greenhouse Conditions. Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production, 35(1), 317-333.