Han et al., explored the effects of 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 on nitrogen retention in cow manure composting. Their study, published in Agronomy, focused on understanding how biochar alters the nitrogen cycle during composting.  

The researchers found that adding 5% biochar to the compost pile increased the total nitrogen content in manure by 12%. The biochar helped preserve nitrogen by increasing the pyrrolic nitrogen content and improving the carbon-nitrogen ratio.  

The study also revealed that biochar played a key role in modifying nitrogen storage by influencing the C=O and C=C bonds. Additionally, biochar enhanced the regional competitiveness of microorganisms, such as Cellvibrio, which boosted the expression of functional genes involved in the nitrification process.  

The authors concluded that adding biochar not only enhances nitrogen storage in organic fertilizer but also changes the microbial population structure. This research has implications for the application of biochar in the field and the development of microbial fertilizers based on cow manure.  

SOURCE: Han, Z., Zeng, J., Zhao, X., Dong, Y., Han, Z., & Yan, T. (2025). Enhancement of Nitrogen Retention in Cow Manure Composting with Biochar: An Investigation into Migration and Regulation Mechanisms. Agronomy, 15(2), 265. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020265