Biochar is gaining global attention as a powerful and sustainable tool for cleaning up the environment. Once primarily used for fuel and carbon storage, biochar is now being recognized for its role in improving soil health and aiding in environmental remediation. Since 2010, research on biochar has surged, with over 250 studies exploring its ability to boost soil fertility, retain water, support microbial life, and even help combat pollution and climate change. Let’s discuss further about Biochar trends in academia and industry.
This article explains researchers view findings where researcher explore a recent bibliometric analysis that uncovers key trends in biochar research, its growing list of applications, and the gaps that still need to be addressed—particularly the need for a clearer definition in U.S. policy and stronger interdisciplinary collaboration. From advanced imaging techniques to innovative uses in contaminated land cleanup, biochar is proving to be much more than just a soil additive—it’s a green technology with transformative potential for the future of environmental management.
Highlights
- Actively using biochar in contaminated land & green construction.
- Innovating biochar production for improved efficiency.
- Utilizing biochar for carbon sequestration & climate mitigation.
- Integrating biochar with green clean-up methods for sustainability.
- Collaborating on interdisciplinary research to advance biochar use.
Biochar Trends Discussion
Growing environmental concerns and stricter waste regulations have accelerated research into clean technologies like biochar. Unlike activated carbon, biochar is cost-effective, eco-friendly, and useful for soil, water, and air pollution control. It improves soil structure, moisture, nutrient retention, and fertility while reducing acidity. The paper addresses the lack of a systematic analysis of biochar in remediation, proposing a bibliometric approach to map research trends, gaps, and future directions.
Bibliometrics—the statistical study of publications—helps evaluate research impact by analyzing publication activity, citations, and collaboration networks. It uses tools like citation and content analysis to identify trends and themes, co-authorship analysis to map collaborations, and metrics like the h-index to measure influence. Recent work suggests combining these methods with content-based metrics for a fuller assessment of scholarly impact.
Research on biochar has grown rapidly, with publications rising from the first paper in 2007 to a peak of 1,254 in 2022, totaling 7,076 studies by 2023. Growth occurred in two phases: moderate from 2007–2017 (21% of publications, 125% annual growth) and explosive from 2018–2023 (71% of publications, 1,099% annual growth). Biochar research spans 95 Web of Science categories, led by environmental sciences, soil sciences, agronomy, engineering, biotechnology, and water resources. Its interdisciplinary applications, particularly in improving soil structure, nutrient retention, and agricultural productivity, have made it a key focus in sustainable environmental management.
Biochar research spans 113 countries, with China, the USA, and Germany as top contributors. China leads in both single- and multi-country publications, producing 2,163 articles with 69,882 citations, followed by the USA (570 articles, 35,840 citations) and Australia (312 articles, 23,455 citations). While China dominates in volume, U.S. and Australian research has strong qualitative impact and network influence. Notably, developing countries like China, Pakistan, India, South Korea, and Egypt adopted biochar research earlier than many developed nations.
Source: Ngaba, M.J.Y., Yemele, O.M., Hu, B. et al. Biochar application as a green clean-up method: bibliometric analysis of current trends and future perspectives. Biochar 7, 83 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-025-00470-2
