Biochar-Mediated Suppression of Soil-Borne Pathogens in Agronomically Important Crops: An Outlook

Abstract

Biochar is solid produce acquired by the heating of biological or carbon-based material in the complete or fractional presence of oxygen and is used as a soil amendment. The numerous valuable properties of biochar on the physical, biological, and chemical properties of soil as well as on plant condition and improvement are extensively acknowledged. The amendment of biochar has also been frequently debated for its properties of suppression of diseases. Nevertheless, the principal mechanisms for these properties are extremely complex and generally unidentified. It is anticipated that the composition of plant root exudate that alters the biochemical and microbial properties in the soil and the stimulation of defense mechanisms of plants due to the amendments of biochar are some critical reasons influencing pathogenic dominance. Further comprehensive studies are required for understanding the detailed connections of plant-pathogen coordination with various types of biochar that will support accomplishing maximum aid of biochar addition for the protection of plants from numerous soil-borne pathogens. In this chapter, the perspective of biochar for the regulation of pathogenic diseases is discussed, specifically the communications with plant pathogenic fungi under contradictory environmental circumstances. It is concluded that the amendment of biochar with soil could be an encouraging approach for the combined management of pests and pathogens. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.